* Albedo is the fraction of solar radiation that is reflected back into space by a surface.

* Land surfaces tend to be more reflective, especially light-colored surfaces like snow, ice, and deserts.

* Water surfaces absorb more sunlight and reflect less, giving them a lower albedo.

Here's a breakdown:

* Land:

* Snow and ice: Very high albedo (up to 90%)

* Sand and deserts: High albedo (around 30-40%)

* Forests: Moderate albedo (around 10-20%)

* Dark soil: Low albedo (around 5-10%)

* Water:

* Open ocean: Low albedo (around 5-10%)

* Dark water: Very low albedo (around 2-5%)

Why is this important?

Albedo plays a crucial role in Earth's climate system. Surfaces with higher albedo reflect more sunlight, which helps to cool the planet. Conversely, surfaces with lower albedo absorb more sunlight, contributing to warming. This is one of the reasons why melting glaciers and ice sheets are a concern for climate change.