Final answer:
The fraction of solar energy reflected back to space due to Earth's cloudiness or snow and ice cover is known as albedo. Albedo refers to the amount of solar radiation reflected from an object or surface. Light-colored objects and surfaces tend to have a higher albedo and reflect more sunlight, while darker objects and surfaces have a lower albedo and absorb more sunlight.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fraction of solar energy reflected back to space due to Earth's cloudiness or snow and ice cover is known as albedo. Albedo refers to the amount of solar radiation reflected from an object or surface. It is often expressed as a percentage.
Light-colored objects and surfaces, like snow and clouds, tend to have a higher albedo and reflect more sunlight, while darker objects and surfaces, like the ocean and forests, tend to have a lower albedo and absorb more sunlight.