7. How do you think the melting of sea Ice and snow would affect the amount of energy reflected or

absorbed?

When warming temperatures gradually melt sea ice over time, fewer bright surfaces are available to reflect sunlight back into the atmosphere. More solar energy is to be absorbed at the surface and ocean temperatures rise. This begins a cycle of warming and melting.

Absorbed solar energy can be used to heat the surface or, when sea ice is present, melt the surface ... The sea ice absorbs less solar energy and keeps the surface cooler. Snow has an even higher albedo than sea ice, and so thick sea ice covered with snow reflects as much as 90 percent of the incoming solar radiation