Earth's energy balance and albedo

Grade 9 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Earth's energy budget (NASA)

   Part	Share of incoming sunlight
   reflected to space	29%
   absorbed by the atmosphere	23%
   absorbed by the surface	48%

2. 1.

   A student says Earth absorbs all the sunlight that reaches it. Which reply fits NASA, by Jun's reading?

   • No; about 29% is reflected, and about 71% is absorbed
   • No; Earth reflects 71%
   • No; Earth absorbs just 29%
   • Correct; Earth absorbs 100% of the sunlight reaching it
3. 2.

   Sunbeams striking the equator straight on and the poles at a slant. A student says the poles are cold because they get no energy. Which reply fits NASA, by Kira's reading?

   • No; the poles absorb more than the tropics
   • No; the polar ice absorbs most light
   • Correct; sunlight does not reach the poles
   • No; they get less light at a low angle, and bright ice reflects much of it

4. Albedo (NSIDC)

   Surface	Albedo
   open ocean	about 0.06
   bare sea ice	0.5 to 0.7
   snow-covered sea ice	up to 0.9

5. 3.

   NSIDC: snow-covered sea ice reflects up to 90%; once melt begins, the surface's albedo drops to about 0.75. Of 300 W/m², how much more is absorbed, by Luz's math?

   • About 45 W/m² less
   • About 0.15 W/m² more
   • About 45 W/m² more
   • About 225 W/m² more
6. 4.

   A model planet gets 340 W/m² and reflects 30% (example data). How much heat must it radiate to stay balanced, by Milo's math?

   • About 0 W/m²
   • About 102 W/m²
   • About 238 W/m²
   • About 340 W/m²

7. Earth's energy budget (NASA)

   Part	Share of incoming sunlight
   reflected to space	29%
   absorbed by the atmosphere	23%
   absorbed by the surface	48%

8. 5.

   Sources give Earth's reflection as about 29 to 30%. For 340 W/m², what range is reflected, by Noah's math?

   • About 238 to 241 W/m²
   • About 99 to 102 W/m²
   • About 29 to 30 W/m²
   • About 9.9 to 10.2 W/m²
9. 6.

   Four evidence cards, labeled A to D. Which evidence best shows that albedo matters, by Pia's reading (NSIDC)?

   • The Sun is hotter at noon
   • Earth's tilt is about 23°
   • Sea ice reflects 50 to 70%, while open ocean reflects about 6%
   • The atmosphere absorbs 23%

10. Albedo (NSIDC)

    Surface	Albedo
    open ocean	about 0.06
    bare sea ice	0.5 to 0.7
    snow-covered sea ice	up to 0.9

11. 7.

    Two model planets get equal sunlight; A is covered in ice and B in open ocean. Which absorbs more, by Tala's reading?

    • They absorb equal amounts
    • A, since its bright ice absorbs more light
    • B, since open ocean has a low albedo
    • A, since it is brighter

12. Earth's energy budget (NASA)

    Part	Share of incoming sunlight
    reflected to space	29%
    absorbed by the atmosphere	23%
    absorbed by the surface	48%

13. 8.

    Which summary of Earth's energy budget fits NASA, by Zee's reading?

    • Most of it reflected, and little absorbed
    • About 29% reflected, 23% absorbed in air and 48% at the surface; heat out equals energy in
    • The air absorbs most, and the surface very little
    • Energy comes in but does not go out

14. Albedo (NSIDC)

    Surface	Albedo
    open ocean	about 0.06
    bare sea ice	0.5 to 0.7
    snow-covered sea ice	up to 0.9

15. 9.

    Which summary of albedo fits NSIDC, by Ari's reading?

    • From 0 to 1: ocean about 0.06, bare sea ice 0.5 to 0.7, snow up to 0.9
    • Ocean about 0.9, and snow about 0.06, since dark water reflects the most sunlight
    • Albedo runs from 0 to 100 watts
    • A higher albedo absorbs more
16. 10.

    Sunbeams striking the equator straight on and the poles at a slant. Which summary of sunlight and latitude fits NASA, by Bo's reading?

    • Each latitude gets equal energy
    • The poles have an energy surplus
    • Lower sun angles spread light, so the tropics gain energy and the poles lose it
    • The poles are closer to the Sun than the tropics are, so they get more energy overall