Changing Albedo

Students test how different surfaces (soil, snow, and water) heat up under light to explore the role of albedo. By comparing temperature changes, they learn how albedo influences warming and melting in Earth's systems.

1. Place soil, sugar (to represent snow), and colored water (to represent oceans) in separate containers, about 4 cm deep.
2. Position lamps with incandescent bulbs above the containers at the same height and angle, but do not turn them on yet.
3. Place a thermometer in each container at the same depth.
4. Record the starting temperatures before turning on the lamps (time 0).
5. Switch on the lamps and start the stopwatch.
6. Record temperatures at one-minute intervals for 10 minutes.
7. Graph the results, using different colored pencils for each material.
8. Discuss findings and relate them to Earth's systems, particularly Arctic ice melt.

Albedo experiment - Susannah Sandrin (Similar concept):

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.)