Feedback Loops & Energy Balance
📋 What it is
Earth balances incoming and outgoing energy; feedback loops can amplify or dampen a change.
🗣️ Coach says
Earth stays stable when energy IN (sunlight) balances energy OUT (heat to space). A feedback loop happens when a change feeds on itself: melting ice exposes dark water that absorbs MORE heat, melting more ice — a reinforcing loop. Understanding feedbacks explains why small nudges can grow.
🧠 Memory hook
Energy in = energy out (balance). Feedback loop = a change that feeds itself (ice melt → more melt).
😂 Giggle
What did the atmosphere say to the greenhouse gases?
"You're trapping too much heat — things are getting uncomfortable!"
😲 Whoa!
Fresh snow reflects about 90% of sunlight; dark ocean absorbs about 90% — so when bright ice melts to dark water, Earth suddenly soaks up far more heat.
✅ Quick check: How is melting sea ice a "reinforcing" feedback loop?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Melting ice exposes dark water that absorbs more heat, which melts more ice — the change speeds itself up.
Ice-albedo feedback amplifies warming.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Compare how hot a white shirt vs a black shirt gets in sun — dark absorbs more, like ice-free ocean.