How does global warming alter the albedo of the Arctic? Select the two correct answers.
Responses
Melting sea ice to reveal darker water.
Replacing tundra with more rapid growth.
Changing migration patterns for sea life.
Melting glaciers to reveal darker soil.
The correct answers are:
1. Melting sea ice to reveal darker water - As global warming causes the Arctic sea ice to melt, it exposes darker water underneath. The white surface of the ice has a high albedo, reflecting most of the incoming solar radiation back into space. However, when the sea ice melts, the darker water has a lower albedo, absorbing more solar radiation and contributing to further warming.
4. Melting glaciers to reveal darker soil - Global warming also leads to the melting of glaciers in the Arctic, which exposes darker soil or rock surfaces. Similar to the effect of melting sea ice, these darker surfaces have a lower albedo and absorb more incoming solar radiation, amplifying the warming effect.
The other two options (2. Replacing tundra with more rapid growth and 3. Changing migration patterns for sea life) do not directly relate to altering the albedo of the Arctic.