An instrument that measures albedo, which is the amount of sunlight reflected by a surface like snow, water, or clouds.
From Latin 'albus' (white) + Greek 'metron' (measure). The term was coined in the 20th century as scientists needed to quantify how reflective different surfaces are.
Albedometers revealed why polar ice sheets are so critical for Earth's climate—they're incredibly reflective, but as they melt from warming, the darker water beneath absorbs more heat, creating a dangerous feedback loop!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.