Tag

Albedo

All articles tagged with #albedo

science-and-tech7 days ago•25 min saved

Could We Spot a Doomsday Asteroid Before It Strikes?

The article asks if humanity could detect an extinction-level asteroid before impact, using the dinosaurs’ 10 km carbonaceous impactor as a case study. It explains that warning time depends on the object’s origin, speed (~21 km/s), and whether it brightens from outgassing; best-case scenarios could offer weeks to a month of naked-eye visibility if the body comes from the night side and becomes bright, but more typical cases might yield only days or hours, or no warning at all if it’s sun-ward or depleted of volatiles. It also highlights how albedo and orbital geometry affect detectability, and stresses the need for planetary defense to gain decades of lead time for meaningful intervention.

via Big Think|

#albedo #asteroid #chicxulub

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Earth’s 27° East Albedo Symmetry Stumps Climate Models

Scientists report a persistent east–west albedo symmetry around 27° E—a triple symmetry that climate models currently fail to reproduce and which could refine future climate projections—alongside briefs on dolphins using individual vocal labels to avoid coercive males, urban bowerbirds decorating with human trash, and titanosaurs’ bones hosting beetle-driven ichnofacies after death.

via 404 Media|

#albedo #bowerbirds #climate-modeling

science5 months ago•4 min saved

Arctic Snow Data Rewritten: Satellite Advances Show Decline, Not Growth

A new analysis of NOAA snow-cover records finds that decades of improving satellite detection created the illusion of growing Arctic snow, when the real trend is a decline—strengthening the snow-albedo feedback and Arctic warming.

via SciTechDaily|

#albedo #arctic #climate-change

science6 months ago•7 min saved

The Brightness of Venus Explained

Venus appears so bright in the night sky primarily due to its high albedo, reflecting about 76% of sunlight because of its thick cloud cover of sulfuric acid droplets, and its proximity to Earth, making it the second-brightest object after the Moon. Its brightness varies with its phase, distance from Earth, and the scattering of sunlight by its clouds, sometimes making it visible during the day.

via Live Science|

#albedo #brightness #planetary-science

science8 months ago•4 min saved

Earth's Dimming: Unraveling the Planet's Brightness Decline

A recent study reveals that a decrease in Earth's reflectivity due to fewer low clouds in key regions like the North Atlantic and tropics contributed significantly to the 2023 global temperature surge, adding extra solar energy to the system and accelerating warming beyond greenhouse gases and El Niño effects.

via Earth.com|

#albedo #climate-change #clouds

science8 months ago•3 min saved

Earth's Dimming and Symmetry Loss Signal Climate Shifts

Recent satellite data reveal that the Earth's Northern Hemisphere is absorbing more sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere, breaking the long-standing symmetry. This shift is attributed to melting snow and ice, reduced pollution, and increased water vapor, potentially impacting global climate patterns. The study highlights the complex interactions between clouds, aerosols, and surface changes in Earth's energy balance.

via Live Science|

#albedo #climate-change #earths-hemispheres

science9 months ago•2 min saved

NASA Warns Earth Is Darkening, Potentially Disrupting Global Balance

NASA warns that Earth is reflecting less sunlight, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, due to factors like melting ice and reduced aerosols, leading to increased heat absorption and potential long-term climate impacts.

via pcworld.com|

#albedo #climate-change #earth

science9 months ago•4 min saved

NASA Warns Earth Is Darkening, Raising Climate Concerns

Scientists have discovered that Earth is getting darker overall, with a more pronounced darkening in the Northern Hemisphere, likely due to climate change, aerosol pollution reduction, and natural disasters, challenging the long-held assumption of hemispheric symmetry in Earth's reflectivity.

via 404 Media|

#albedo #ceres #climate-change

environment1 year ago•4 min saved

Diminishing Clouds Linked to Record Global Heat Surge

A new study by the Alfred Wegener Institute suggests that changes in Earth's cloud cover, particularly a decline in low-altitude clouds, may explain a recent unexplained 0.2°C surge in global warming. This decline reduces Earth's albedo, meaning less sunlight is reflected back into space, contributing to higher global temperatures. The study highlights the critical role of clouds in climate regulation and suggests that this feedback loop between warming and cloud loss could accelerate global warming, potentially crossing the 1.5°C threshold sooner than expected.

via Earth.com|

#albedo #climatechange #cloudcover

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Diminishing Low Clouds Linked to 2023's Record Heat Surge

A study by German scientists suggests that the Earth is absorbing more sunlight due to reduced cloud cover, contributing to accelerated global warming. In 2023, a record energy imbalance was observed, with decreased albedo, or reflectivity, largely due to a decline in low-level clouds over northern mid-latitude and tropical oceans. This phenomenon may indicate a feedback loop where rising temperatures reduce cloud cover, further enhancing warming. The findings imply that future climate sensitivity could be higher than current estimates, emphasizing the urgency to understand these changes.

via Ars Technica|

#albedo #climate-change #cloud-cover

science2 years ago•3 min saved

"Scientists Uncover Key Missing Element in Climate Models"

Researchers from UC Irvine and the University of Michigan have identified that a commonly used climate model overestimates the albedo of ice by about 5%, leading to underestimations of ice melt. By incorporating more accurate ice reflectivity data, the model now shows the Greenland Ice Sheet melting at a rate of six gigatons more than previously estimated. This finding highlights the importance of accounting for microphysical properties of ice, such as the effects of algae and dust, in climate models.

via Phys.org|

#albedo #climate-change #climate-models

space-technology2 years ago•2 min saved

"Booz Allen Ventures Makes First Space Investment in Albedo's VLEO Satellite Constellation"

Albedo, an Earth-observation startup, has raised $35 million in a Series A-1 investment round to accelerate the deployment of its very low Earth orbit (VLEO) constellation, aiming to provide high-resolution Earth imagery with 10-centimeter resolution and two-meter thermal imagery for commercial and defense customers. The funding, led by Standard Investments, brings the total funding to $97 million and will support the launch of the company's first satellite in 2025.

via SpaceNews|

#albedo #earth-imagery-satellite #earth-observation

climate-science2 years ago•3 min saved

"Uncovering Arctic Warming: New Insights on Chasing the Light"

A study by Sandia researchers using GPS satellite radiometer data has revealed new insights into the reduction of sunlight reflectivity, or albedo, in the Arctic, which is heating up at a rate four times faster than the rest of the planet. The study found a 20% to 35% decrease in total reflectivity over the Arctic summer, with one-third attributed to fully melted ice and the remaining two-thirds likely caused by the weathering of the remaining sea ice. The researchers hope that their findings will be incorporated into models for Arctic amplification and plan to continue mining the GPS data for further analysis.

via Phys.org|

#albedo #arctic #climate-change

science3 years ago•2 min saved

"Metallic Clouds Found on Mirror Planet: Astronomers' Discovery"

Astronomers have discovered an intriguing planet, LTT9779 b, located 260 light-years away from Earth, which reflects around 80 percent of its star's light despite its close proximity to the star. The planet, estimated to have a surface temperature of 2,000 degrees Celsius, is believed to have metal clouds made of silicate and titanate, creating a mirror-like effect. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about cloud formation in hot planets and highlights the complexity of our universe.

via BGR|

#albedo #astronomers #ltt9779-b

astronomy3 years ago•3 min saved

"Unveiling the Enigma: The Mirror-Like Exoplanet with Metallic Clouds"

Astronomers have discovered a "hot Neptune" exoplanet called LTT9779 b, which reflects 80% of the light shone on it, making it the shiniest exoplanet ever observed. The planet's high albedo is a mystery, as it is located extremely close to its star and should not have any clouds. However, observations from the Cheops satellite suggest that the planet's atmosphere is super-saturated with silicate and metal vapors, allowing metallic clouds to form. This indicates that the planet started out as a gas giant but has been losing mass over time. Further observations from telescopes like Hubble and James Webb could provide more insights into this intriguing world.

via Ars Technica|

#albedo #astronomy #atmosphere