How does albedo in the southern hemisphere differ between the two maps in Figure 3-7?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

First, let's restate the scenario to ground our analysis: the question asks how albedo in the southern hemisphere differs between two maps shown in Figure 3-7, and we are given four answer options.
Option 1: 'There is very little difference as the southern hemisphere does not have many areas of high elevation.' This claim ties low albedo differences to a lack of high elevations. In reality, the southern hemisphere does have elevated regions (e.g., the Andes, parts of Africa’s southern edge, Antarctica) and the key issue affecting albedo differences is more about surface type and maritime influence than merely elevation quantity. This option oversimplifies and misattributes the cause, making it an unlikely justification for little difference.
Option 2: 'There is very little difference as the southern hemisphere benefits from the maritime effect.' The maritime or oceanic influence reduces extreme temperature contrasts and tends to produce more uniform, often higher albedo surfaces due to clouds and ocean reflectivity, depending on region. This explanation aligns with climate geography principles: vast ocean coverage in the southern hemisphere moderates surfaces and can lead to smaller albedo contrasts between maps, especially compared with continental interiors. This option is plausible and aligns with established patterns.
Option 3: 'There is very little difference as the southern hemisphere benefits from the continental effect.' The continental effect would imply that landmasses dominate and drive particular albedo differences, which contradicts the premise that the southern hemisphere is less continental and more maritime overall. Since the global southern hemisphere is more ocean-dominated, invoking a continental effect as the reason for little difference seems inconsistent with typical regional characteristics. This makes this option doubtful.
Option 4: 'There is very little difference as the southern hemisphere is far more humid than the northern hemisphere.' Humidity itself does not directly determine albedo differences between two maps; albedo is more sensitive to surface reflectivity (ice, snow, clouds, vegetation, desert, water) rather than humidity per se. While humidity relates to cloud cover, stating it as the sole or primary reason for little difference oversimplifies the complex interactions between surface types and albedo. This option therefore misattributes the cause and is less convincing.
In summary, Option 2 presents a coherent rationale grounded in geography: the southern hemisphere’s extensive maritime influence tends to moderate surface properties and reduce stark albedo contrasts between maps, whereas the other options rely on assumptions about elevation, continental dominance, or humidity that do not consistently explain the observed albedo pattern across hemispheres. The incorrect options either mischaracterize the regional characteristics (elevation emphasis, continental effect) or misattribute the mechanism (humidity) to explain albedo differences. The maritime-dominated southern hemisphere remains the most consistent explanation among the choices.

How does albedo in the southern hemisphere differ between the two maps in Figure 3-7?

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