To determine which surface has the lowest albedo, we need to understand what albedo means. Albedo is a measure of how much sunlight is reflected by a surface. High albedo surfaces reflect a majority of the sunlight, while low albedo surfaces absorb more sunlight and reflect less.
Here is an explanation of each option:
A. A wet field
- Wet fields generally have dark, moist soil that absorbs a significant amount of sunlight. Because they absorb more sunlight and reflect less, they have a low albedo.
B. An iceberg
- Icebergs are primarily made of ice, which is usually white or light-colored. These surfaces reflect a large portion of sunlight and therefore have a high albedo.
C. A mirror
- A mirror is designed to reflect almost all the light that hits its surface, so it has one of the highest albedos possible.
D. A desert
- Deserts typically consist of sand, which can be somewhat reflective, especially if light-colored. However, even though they reflect some sunlight, they do not reflect as much as icebergs or mirrors. Thus, their albedo is moderate, though not the lowest.
Considering these explanations, the surface with the lowest albedo among the given options is:
A. A wet field
So, the answer is:
1. A wet field
