Essays on Reflectivity

Climate Change

Earth is the only planet in the universe that supports life, and this uniqueness is attributable to its optimal temperature and climatic conditions. Earth’s temperature is affected by variations in solar energy that reach earth, changes is earth surface as well as atmospheric reflectivity, as well as changes in concentration of greenhouse gases (EPA, 2016). Earth’s distance, rotation in its axis and revolution around sun in its orbit primarily determine change of seasons in earth, as well as its climatic patterns. Variations in light reflectivity or albedo of various surface features on earth also contribute to climate ...

Introduction

Thin-film optics is a division of optics that deals with the very thin structured layers of materials. The condition of exhibiting thin-film optics is that the thickness of the layers of the material should in order of visible light wavelength usually about 500nm. At this scale, layers can have remarkable reflective properties based on the difference in refractive index and wave interference between layers, the substrate and the air. The effects called thin-film interference alters the way the optic transmits and reflects light and they are observable in oil slicks and soap bubbles. A dielectric mirror also called is ...

Cloud reflectivity modification

Cloud Reflectivity Modification is also known as cloud whitening, cloud reflectivity modification is an excellent example of a geo-engineering approach to curb and slow down the effects of global warming. The reflectivity of clouds is either increased or decreased to alter their climatic effect. Two forms of cloud whitening have been proposed; marine cloud brightening and cirrus stripping. Cirrus stripping is the thinning or total removal of cirrus clouds from the earth’s atmosphere. Cirrus clouds reflect a high amount of infra-red from the earth’s surface and simultaneously allow a high percentage of sun rays to reach earth. All this ...