albedo factor

Specifically Terrestrial Albedo Factor

When walls or exposed roofs (either flat or pitched) are selected then the color (and hence reflectance values) may also be defined by clicking on the Define color buttons in both the Wall Details and the Ceiling Details forms. Scientifically, varying reflectance as a function of surface color is described under the phenomenon known as albedo factor.

Please make no mistake. Contracts have been won or lost and installations have failed because of poor understanding of reflectance and Albedo factors!

Is color important?

Typical terrestrial albedo factors.

Fresh asphalt0.04
Open ocean0.6
Worn asphalt0.12
Coniferous forest0.08 to 0.15
Deciduous trees0.15 to 0.18
Bare soil0.17
Green grass0.25
Desert sand0.40
New concrete0.55
Ocean ice0.50 to 0.70
Fresh snow0.80

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:

ground reflectance