Surface Albedo Feedback

A climate change very likely leads to changes in the optical properties of the earth's surface.  For example, a warmer climate ought to have reduced sea ice and snow coverage.  Since sea ice and snow are more reflective of sunshine than open ocean or bare land, this leads to more sunshine absorbed at the earth's surface, which in turn leads to more warming.  Because snow and sea ice are so much more common at high latitudes, surface albedo feedback would enhance the sensitivity of high latitude regions much more than the tropics. Changes in vegetation and soil as a result of climate change also affect the optical properties of the surface.  This is also an active area of research on surface albedo feedback.

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