Climate of Norway: Albedo, Manic Temperatures, & Wind Patterns.

During the winter months stretching from October to April, when Norway experiences heavy snowfall, sunlight is scattered and reflected because of Norway’s relative location to the north pole and high albedo—which is the proportion of light or radiation reflected by a surface, lighter colored surfaces reflect light whereas, darker colored surfaces absorb light. Glaciers further contribute to Norway’s highly reflective surface during the winter, and even during summer months because of high albedo.

Because most of Norway is covered in light or white colored snow or ice, it reflects shortwave radiation—which is radiant wavelengths in the visible, ultra-violet, and near-infrared spectra of the electromagnetic spectrum—which represents the range of wavelengths and frequencies of radiation.  The snow and ice, and in some cases light grey rock, reflects the sun, more so than water, which absorbs sunlight and shortwave radiation because of its dark hue and low albedo.

Shortwave radiation being reflected of off the snow from high albedo (the bright and shiny white).

During the summer and spring seasons of Norway, solar energy and shortwave radiation is absorbed by green foliage, dark rock, and exposed land, which according to the 2^nd Law of Geography, heats faster than water, which results in convection, where warming air heats, expands, and rises. The convection that takes place warms up the entirety of Norway, providing insulation and leading to the mild summers that Norway is known for.

Mostly, Norway rests between the subpolar low and subtropical high flow of global wind patterns and has prevailing westerlies that blows toward the North Pole, while northern Norway rests above the subpolar low wind pattern and experiences polar easterlies—or cold, dry winds. 

A map showing global wind patterns. Norway rests between the subpolar low and subtropical high regions.

The coldest temperature recorded in Norway is -60.5°F, while the warmest is 96.1°F. Locally, Norway’s climate has steadily warmed as ice caps melt and warmer temperatures become more prevalent, as well as Global Climate Change debates.

Sources:

NASA. “Satellite recordings of North Atlantic Current.” Nasa.gov. NASA, 23 Feb. 2008.

Bard, A., Lie, E. “The chaotic current that warms Norway.” Forskningsradet.no. The Research Council of Norway. 2 Feb. 2011.

University of Illinois. “Global Wind Patterns.” Atmos.uluc.edu. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2010.