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The balance between energy absorbed by the earth and energy reflected back into space is fundamental in determining how warm or cool the planet becomes. The proportion of radiation reflected away by a surface is called its albedo. Albedo can range between 0 (no reflectance) and 1 (complete reflectanceâlike a mirror). The earthâs average albedo is .31, which means that, overall, the planet reflects about 31% of incoming solar radiation back into space.
The sunâs radiation must make it through multiple barriers before it reaches Earthâs surface. The first barrier is the atmosphere. About 26% of the sunâs energy is reflected or scattered back into space by clouds and particulates in the atmosphere 34. Another 18% of solar energy is absorbed in the atmosphere.