Earth Reflects!
Activity
Guide
Melting
glaciers and the albedo effect
Description: Visitors will use blue and white felt mittens to represent the
surface of the ocean and ice caps to feel the effects of albedo, or the amount of
heat that is reflected from a surface.
Audience: Hands-on activity for families and kids ages 5 and up
Length: 10-15 minutes
Learning Objective
Participants
in
this
activity
explore
how
the
color
of
a
surface
affects
the
amount
of
heat
that
can
be
absorbed
by
a
surface.
They
will
learn
that
the
amount
of
heat
from
the
sun
absorbed
or
reflected
from
the
earth’s
surface
(albedo)
has
contributed
to
the
melting
of
the
polar
ice
caps.
Climate Connection
Albedo
is
the
amount
of
solar
radiation
that
is
absorbed
or
reflected
from
the
earth’s
surface.
Albedo
is
partly
determined
by
color,
where
dark
areas
absorb
more
heat
and
lighter
areas
reflect
more.
The
effects
of
albedo
are
very
apparent
at
the
Earth’s
poles.
High
albedo
areas,
such
as
the
ice
caps,
reflect
a
lot
of
heat.
Lower
albedo
areas,
such
as
the
oceans,
absorb
more
heat.
Surface
albedo
plays
an
important
role
with
regards
to
the
current
rate
of
climate
change.
As
the
surface
of
the
Earth
heats
up,
areas
that
were
once
covered
in
white
reflective
ice
are
now
melting
to
become
the
darker,
less
reflective
color
of
the
surrounding
ocean.
The
darker
colored
ocean
then
absorbs
more
heat,
which
encourages
more
melting
of
the
ice
sheets.
The role of albedo in climate change is an example of a positive feedback loop. Materials
•
•
•
•
One
blue
and
one
white
felt
square
mittens.
(You
may
want
to
make
more
than
one
pair)
Light
source
with
150‐watt
light
bulb.
Two
digital
thermometers
Cup
with
water
Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY
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Earth
Reflects!
Activity
Guide
Set up
•
•
•
Set
up
an
incandescent
desk
lamp
so
that
it
is
shining
on
a
surface.
Assemble
the
blue
and
white
felt
mittens
suitable
for
the
hands
of
your
intended
audience.
Sew
the
mittens
together
or
use
strong
glue.
Place
thermometers
with
their
temperature
reading
tips
in
the
cup
of
water.
Program Delivery
Have you ever noticed the difference between wearing a white or a black shirt on a sunny day? Which shirt makes you feel warmer? You
are
feeling
the
effects
of
albedo!
What is albedo? Albedo
is
the
amount
of
solar
radiation
that
is
absorbed
or
reflected
from
the
earth’s
surface,
which
is
partly
determined
by
color.
High
albedo
areas,
such
as
the
polar
ice
caps,
reflect
a
lot
of
heat.
Lower
albedo
areas,
such
as
the
oceans,
absorb
more
heat.
[Have
visitors
put
on
one
blue
felt
mitten
and
one
white
felt
mitten.
Ask
them
to
put
their
hands
under
the
lamp
and
observe
how
their
hands
feel
after
1
minute.]
[After
the
minute
has
passed,
ask
participants
if
they
notice
a
temperature
difference
and
try
measuring
the
temperature
inside
both
of
your
mittens.]
How does climate change affect the Earth’s albedo? Albedo
is
an
important
when
discussing
climate
change
because
of
the
increased
rates
of
melting
of
sea
and
land
ice.
At
the
Earth’s
poles,
vast
areas
that
were
once
highly
reflective
have
been
replaced
by
a
darker
colored
ocean,
which
has
a
lower
albedo.
The
dark
surface
then
retains
more
heat
and
contributes
to
further
melting.
Scientists
call
this
cycle
a
positive
feedback
loop
because
each
process
is
encouraging
the
other.
In
this
activity
the
white
mitten
represents
the
polar
ice
sheets.
This
surface
has
a
high
albedo
and
it
reflects
a
lot
of
heat
away
from
the
Earth.
The
dark
blue
mitten,
which
represents
the
polar
ocean,
has
a
much
lower
albedo
and
therefore
traps
more
heat
at
the
Earth’s
surface.
Discussion
Questions:
Have
you
noticed
other
times
when
the
color
black
felt
warmer
than
other
colors?
How
can
we
reduce
the
effect
of
climate
change
on
the
Earth’s
albedo?
Credits
This
project
is
made
possible
by
a
grant
from
the
U.S.
Institute
of
Museum
and
Library
Services
Copyright
2010,
Sciencenter,
Ithaca,
NY.
Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY
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