Figure 3. The graph on the left shows the average snow albedo over the western United States in relation to the 22-year satellite data. The map on the right shows the snow radiative forcing characteristics attributed to dust and soot; darker orange and red colors on the map represent snow that contains more dust and soot and can thus absorb more solar radiation, while lighter yellow colors indicate snow that has less dust and soot and thus reflects more solar radiation. — Credit: Karl Rittger, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research and Mary J. Brodzik, National Snow and Ice Data Center