Approximately 30% of the sunlight that reaches Earth is reflected back into space, while about 70% is absorbed by the atmosphere and Earth's surface. This 30% reflection is known as Earth's average albedo, which is roughly 0.29 to 0.30. The reflected sunlight comes from clouds, the Earth's surface (including ice and snow), and atmospheric particles and gases

. To summarize:

• About 70% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and Earth's surface, contributing to warming

• About 30% of incoming solar radiation is reflected back to space, which is Earth's albedo

• Surfaces like snow and ice have high albedo and reflect more sunlight, while darker surfaces like forests absorb more sunlight

Thus, roughly 30% of sunlight is reflected, and the remaining 70% is absorbed and drives Earth's climate and energy processes.