From which one of the following is the percentage of reflected amount of radiation highest?

The percentage of reflected solar radiation is known as albedo. Among the given options, snow cover exhibits the highest reflectivity. Fresh snow can reflect between 70% and 95% of incoming solar radiation [1]. Thick clouds also possess high reflectivity, typically ranging from 70% to 90% [2]. In contrast, natural surfaces like forests have a much lower albedo, generally between 10% and 25% [3]. Wet ground or soil typically reflects even less, as moisture darkens the surface and increases absorption. While clouds are significant reflectors in the global heat budget, snow-covered areas are recognized as having the highest specific surface albedo, reaching up to 95% for clean, fresh snow [1]. Therefore, snow cover is the surface from which the percentage of reflected radiation is highest.

Sources

1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 21: Horizontal Distribution of Temperature > Albedo > p. 283
2. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature > Heat Budget of the Planet Earth > p. 69
3. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 21: Horizontal Distribution of Temperature > 21. Horizontal Distribution of Temperature > p. 285