Albedo changes and satellite observations of the earth

More that 70

of solar energy imput to the earth's climate system is obsorbed at the surface albedo as the ratio of reflected to incident radiation determines the amount of solar energy for conversion into heat. The reflection of solar radiation from many surfaces is found to be a strong function of wavelength and depends upon the state of the surface, Changes in surface albedo are cause be variable snow cover and ice extent and be surface changes due to anthropogenically induced desertification, deforestation and greenhouse warming (AU)

Radiative transfer and greenhouse effect

climate of the Earth as a planet is determined by the extraterrestrial solar irradiance and the averaged radiative properties of the Earth system, which consists of the atmosphere, the oceans, the land surfaces with their biota, and the cryosphere. The geographical distribution of climates depends primarely on the inclination of the Earth's rotational axis with respect to the orbital plane, surface characteristics and the composition of the otmosphere. Radiatively active atmospheric constituents determine, how much of the solar flux reaches the ground. They also regulate the upwelling infrared radiative flux. (AU)

Land - surface - vegetation - climate feedbacks

interaction between the soils, the vegetation and atmosphere is determined by the exchange of energy, momentun, water and other substances. This paper deals primarely with the energy and water fluxes. Their nature and computation procedures are described, Finaly it is discussed how these interactions may vary under changing climatic conditions and what kind of feedback to the atmosphere can be expected from a change of land - surface characteristics. (AU)

Determination of surface Albedo for agroclimatological uses

spatial temporal and spectral resolutions of meteorological satellites make them suitable for near - real - time albedo mapping over large areas, particularly at a regional scale. This work refers to an application of the "minimum - radiance" method to METEOSAT WEFAX - format images directly received at a SECONDARY DATA USER STATION (SDUS) for the obtention of semiquantitative albedo maps in the agricultural region of Valencia (Spain). (AU)