Home Â» Local Â» Weather Report Clovis, New Mexico Weather Report Â· Interactive Map Â· Extended Forecast Â· Hourly Forecast Â· Past Observations Â· Historic Averages
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.
Some 30 percent of all incoming solar radiation never makes it to ground level. In space the sun is always shining, the tilt of the Earth doesn't prevent the collection of power and thereâs no atmosphere to reduce the intensity of the sunâs rays. This makes putting solar panels into space a tempting possibility.