Specifically Terrestrial Albedo Factor
When walls or exposed roofs (either flat or pitched) are selected then the colour (and hence reflectance values) may also be defined by clicking on the Define Colour buttons in both the Wall Details and the Ceiling Details forms. Scientifically, varying reflectance as a function of surface colour is described under the phenomenon known as albedo factor.
Typical terrestrial albedo factors.
Fresh asphalt | 0.04 |
Open ocean | 0.6 |
Worn asphalt | 0.12 |
Coniferous forest | 0.08 to 0.15 |
Deciduous trees | 0.15 to 0.18 |
Bare soil | 0.17 |
Green grass | 0.25 |
Desert sand | 0.40 |
New concrete | 0.55 |
Ocean ice | 0.50 to 0.70 |
Fresh snow | 0.80 |
Planet Earth average | 0.30 |
As can be seen, the higher the value the more reflective the surface. Then conversely of course lower values correspond to darker surfaces.
See also: