Like Clark Kent turns into Superman, my alter ego is “Al Bedo!” The infamous guy who’s wearing black in the winter and white in the summer. Changing the way you dress in each season can make you more comfortable. Obviously, it’s better to wear black in the winter and better to leave at home in the summer. Those are the most important times of year to pay attention to “Al.” But instead of two seasons, let’s look at the temperatures instead. And maybe we should start thinking of Al, not as a person. Albedo is actually the amount of light/energy that is reflected off a surface. It’s why black leather seats are murder on your thighs in the summertime. It’s also why most jet airliners are white or light-colored (so they don’t turn into ovens on the tarmac).
Here in the winter, albedo is important to think about. Meteorologists have to pay close attention to it when forecasting the weather! So far this winter, we have really not had much snow on the ground. So we’ve been able to absorb more of the sun’s rays, creating a more comfortable, warmer lower atmosphere. And for the past few months, temperatures have averaged well above the norm. However, when that white snow is on the ground, more of the incoming sunlight is reflected back into the atmosphere and even back to space. That will be the case over the next week or so.
Here’s the difference.
Notice how the incoming red arrows change after they bounce off the surface. Darker colors (like the wild grasses above) are able to warm up. But when they are covered in snow, that warmth is reflected off into space. This is the same principal behind the “One-Two Punch” we talk about in winter. That’s where we usually get big snow storms, followed by a big surge of cold air.
While we don’t have any big snowstorms here in the short term, there is plenty of cold air coming…and it could get bitter, thanks to the bright white snow on the ground.
