======Changing Albedo======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Alternative titles:** Effect of Albedo on Surface Temperature
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Place soil, sugar (to represent snow), and colored water (to represent oceans) in separate containers, about 4 cm deep.  
  - Position lamps with incandescent bulbs above the containers at the same height and angle, but do not turn them on yet.  
  - Place a thermometer in each container at the same depth.  
  - Record the starting temperatures before turning on the lamps (time 0).  
  - Switch on the lamps and start the stopwatch.  
  - Record temperatures at one-minute intervals for 10 minutes.  
  - Graph the results, using different colored pencils for each material.  
  - Discuss findings and relate them to Earth's systems, particularly Arctic ice melt.



====Links==== 
Albedo experiment - Susannah Sandrin (Similar concept): 
{{youtube>L9URerDJmC8?}}\\


📄 Changing Albedo Lab - my NASA data: [[https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/lesson-plans/changing-albedo-lab]]\\


====Variations====
  * Have each group test only one material, then share data with the class to compare results.  
  * Try additional surfaces such as sand, grass, or aluminum foil to see how they affect heating.  
  * Conduct the experiment outdoors in direct sunlight instead of using lamps.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Handle lamps with care, as bulbs can become hot.  
  * Ensure water does not spill near electrical outlets or lamps.  
  * Use thermometers safely to avoid breakage.




====Questions to Consider====
  * What happens to sea ice as temperatures rise with the seasons? (It begins to melt.)  
  * What effect does sunlight have when it shines on ice compared to land? (Ice reflects much of the sunlight, while land absorbs more and heats up.)  
  * As snow and ice melt, what new features form? (Puddles, pools of water, or melted ocean water.)  
  * How does melting ice and snow affect albedo? (Albedo decreases, causing more heat absorption.)  
  * How does a lower albedo impact the melting process? (It speeds up melting by increasing warming.)