The albedo effect plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate. It refers to the reflectivity of the planet's surface, particularly how different surfaces—like snow, water, and forests—reflect sunlight. High albedo surfaces, such as ice, reflect more sunlight, keeping the planet cooler, while lower albedo surfaces absorb more heat, contributing to warming. Changes in the albedo effect due to factors like melting ice caps can exacerbate climate change by increasing the absorption of heat and intensifying global temperature rise.