Climate change melts ice. How does this impact the amount of energy that gets reflected back to space?

Question

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1 point
Increased ice causes more energy to be reflected.
Decreased ice causes less energy to be reflected.
Decreased ice causes more energy to be reflected.
Increased ice causes less energy to be reflected

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

Decreased ice causes less energy to be reflected.

When ice melts due to climate change, it reveals darker ocean or land surfaces underneath, which absorb more sunlight and thus increase the amount of energy that is absorbed rather than reflected back into space. This is known as the albedo effect. Less ice means lower albedo, leading to more energy absorption.