geoeasy

Albedo refers to the reflectivity of a surface, representing the fraction of incoming light that is reflected rather than absorbed. Expressed as a value between 0 and 1, or as a percentage from 0% to 100%, albedo plays a critical role in determining how much energy from sunlight is retained or reflected by different surfaces. A surface with an albedo of 0 absorbs all incoming light, while one with an albedo of 1 (or 100%) reflects all of it.

In September 2024, a slow-moving storm unleashed days of relentless rainfall across central and eastern Europe, triggering devastating floods that submerged entire towns and forced tens of thousands to evacuate. This extreme weather event brought widespread destruction, particularly in Austria, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic (Czechia), as rivers burst their banks and floodwaters surged into homes, farmlands, and cities.

The Amazon is experiencing record-breaking fires in 2024, exacerbated by climate change and El Niño.In the first seven months of 2024, the Brazilian Amazon recorded the highest number of fires in the last 20 years.Although deforestation in the region decreased by 50% in 2023 compared to 2022, burned areas increased by 36%.

ECMWF stands for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. It is an independent intergovernmental organization supported by multiple European countries, which provides global weather forecasts and climate data.