Albedo-Effect-0.mp3
Albedo-Effect-0.mp4
Albedo-Effect-I.mp3
Albedo-Effect-I.mp4
Albedo-Effect-II-R.mp3
Albedo-Effect-II-R.mp4
Albedo-Effect-Reggae.mp3
Albedo-Effect-Reggae.mp4
Albedo-Effect-intro.mp3
[Intro]
(Yo, yo)
Albedo
(Hello)
New know
[Verse 1]
Surface reflectivity
Affecting the ability
Of heat to be absorbed
Or ignored
[Bridge]
(Yo, yo)
Albedo
(Hello)
New know
[Chorus]
You’re getting warm
(It’s time to warn)
The temperatures getting hot
(To the point we’re not)
[Verse 2]
Are you dark
Are you light
Start the spark
For insight
[Bridge]
(Yo, yo)
Albedo
(Hello)
New know
[Chorus]
You’re getting warm
(It’s time to warn)
The temperatures getting hot
(To the point we’re not)
[Outro]
(Yo, yo)
Albedo
(Soooo)
Now you know
A SCIENCE NOTE
Rocks influence climate change and the albedo effect in several ways, depending on their composition, color, and how they interact with Earth’s surface processes.
1. The Albedo Effect
Albedo refers to how much sunlight a surface reflects versus absorbs. Lighter-colored surfaces (like snow, ice, or light-colored rocks such as limestone) reflect more sunlight, helping to keep the planet cool. Darker surfaces (like basalt or asphalt) absorb more heat, warming the environment.
-
Light-colored rocks (high albedo) – Reflect more sunlight, contributing to cooling.
-
Dark-colored rocks (low albedo) – Absorb more sunlight, increasing local and global temperatures.
Examples:
-
Volcanic rock like basalt, which is dark, absorbs more solar radiation and can contribute to localized warming.
-
Deserts with high exposure of light-colored sandstones or quartz-rich rocks reflect more sunlight, reducing heat absorption.
2. Carbon Sequestration and Chemical Weathering
Some rocks, particularly silicate and carbonate rocks, play a role in the carbon cycle by naturally pulling CO₂ from the atmosphere through weathering.
-
Silicate rocks (like basalt and granite): These react with atmospheric CO₂ and rainwater to form dissolved ions, eventually leading to carbonate deposition in oceans.
-
Carbonate rocks (like limestone and dolomite): Store large amounts of carbon but can also release CO₂ when dissolved or exposed to acid rain.
Enhanced weathering (crushing rocks like olivine and spreading them over land or oceans) has been proposed as a geoengineering method to absorb CO₂ more quickly.
3. Volcanic Activity and Aerosols
Volcanic eruptions release gases and particles that can temporarily cool the climate by increasing atmospheric albedo. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from eruptions forms sulfate aerosols that reflect sunlight, causing short-term cooling.
Conversely, volcanic outgassing releases CO₂, which contributes to long-term warming.
4. Permafrost and Rock Weathering Feedback
In Arctic regions, permafrost contains frozen organic matter trapped in rock and soil. As permafrost melts, it releases methane (CH₄) and CO₂, accelerating warming.
Overall Impact on Climate Change
-
Rocks influence Earth’s temperature by affecting surface reflectivity (albedo) and interacting with the carbon cycle.
-
Human activities, like mining, deforestation, and urbanization, expose different types of rocks, potentially altering local climate conditions.
The evidence is clear: climate change is rapidly accelerating, and the costs—both economic and human—are growing exponentially. The future demands decisive and immediate action to curb greenhouse gas emissions and prevent further environmental and societal collapse. Our updated climate model, now integrating complex social-ecological factors as part of a dynamic and non-linear system, shows that global temperatures could rise by up to 9°C within this century—far beyond previous predictions of a 4°C rise over the next thousand years. This level of warming will render much of the world uninhabitable within this century.