Broadband White-Sky Albedo (0.3 - 0.5 microns) - Coastal Carolinas, March 5 - March 8, 2000

This image maps the albedo of the surface for the same region and time period. Albedo measures the proportion of incoming solar radiation reaching a surface that is reflected back to the atmosphere and to space. For an unchanging surface, albedo can vary somewhat, depending on the sky and atmospheric conditions. This image maps the white-sky albedo, which is the albedo under conditions of a uniform, dense cloud cover, in which downwelling light energy comes uniformly from all directions. The color bar indicates the albedo value. Typically, vegetated surfaces and water have low albedos, while soil and urban surfaces have somewhat higher values. Note that solar energy that is not reflected away from a surface is absorbed by that surface. Thus, albedo also provides information about the amount of energy absorbed by a surface. Since this energy serves to heat the soil and the air just above the surface, albedo is an important factor in weather and climate studies, and especially is important for modeling of weather and climate on scales of days to years
(Resolution: 1000 meters; MODIS Product: MOD43; Product Level: 3; MODIS Data Type: MODIS-PFM)

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Alan Strahler, Boston University and University College London

Published May 9, 2000
Data acquired March 5, 2000

Source:

Terra > MODIS

Topic:

Atmosphere > Radiation Budget > Solar Radiation