How much solar energy is reflected back into space?

About 30% of incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space.

• Incoming solar radiation: 100%
• Reflected by the atmosphere: 6% : Absorbed by the atmosphere: 16%
• Continuing incoming solar radiation: 78%
• Reflected by clouds: 20% : Absorbed by clouds: 3%
• Continuing incoming solar radiation: 55%
• Reflected by the earth's surface: 4% : Absorbed by the earth's surface (lands and oceans): 51%

(Source: NASA. see link below)

A:Scientists use the term albedo to describe the percentage of solar radiation reflected back into space by an object or surface.

A perfectly black surface has an albedo of 0 (all radiation is absorbed).

A perfectly mirror-finished surface has an albedo of 1.0 (all radiation is reflected).

Earth's average albedo is about 0.3. In other Words, about 30 percent of incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space (from land, sea, clouds, ice and atmosphere) and 70 percent is absorbed.

From point to point on the Earth's surface, the albedo varies; high for clouds or snow, low for cities and paved areas, intermediate for vegetation. Overall, averaging the bright areas with the cities, the Earth's albedo is about 0.3 or perhaps just a little higher; 0.34 or so.
Well, all of it is not. Some of it is absorbed by the oceans, some by dry land, and some by the ice caps.