Albedo changes — Surface surveillance from satellites

Natural changes in surface (and particularly land surface) albedo are described in terms of their impact upon climate. Emphasis is placed upon the importance of the regional or synoptic scale view of albedo change and upon a methodology of monitoring such variations using current satellite surveillance. A case study of the United Kingdom during the 1976 drought reveals the large scale changes in reflectivity that can occur during extreme events. It is possible that such surface changes could have caused positive feedback in the atmospheric circulation thus prolonging the drought conditions.