albedo
September 11, 2007al·be·do
n., pl. -dos.
- The fraction of incident electromagnetic radiation reflected by a surface, especially of a celestial body.
- The spongy white tissue on the inside of the rind of citrus fruit.
[Late Latin albedo, whiteness, from Latin albus, white.]
As Vangelis could tell you, the Earth’s albedo is (or was) 0.39—how brightly we shine in the universe.
September 11th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
First time I ever heard of the word. Makes sense, though, and I like the idea of us shining!