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Cloud albedo is a measure of the albedo or reflectivity of a cloud. Clouds regulate the amount of solar radiation absorbed by a planet and its solar surface irradiance . Generally, increased cloud cover correlates to a higher albedo and a lower absorption of solar energy .
Unless given for a specific wavelength (spectral albedo), albedo refers to the entire spectrum of solar radiation. [4] Due to measurement constraints, it is often given for the spectrum in which most solar energy reaches the surface (between 0.3 and 3 μm).
Assuming no cloud cover, most of the surface emissions that reach space do so through the atmospheric window. The atmospheric window is a region of the electromagnetic wavelength spectrum between 8 and 11 μm where the atmosphere does not absorb longwave radiation (except for the ozone band between 9.6 and 9.8 μm). [19]
A diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum, showing various properties across the range of frequencies and wavelengths. The electromagnetic spectrum is the full range of electromagnetic radiation, organized by frequency or wavelength. The spectrum is divided into separate bands, with different names for the electromagnetic waves within each band.
Described by the amount, wavelength interval, and width of spectral bands in which the sensor conducts wavelength measurements, a sensor with high spectral resolution would mean that it is able to capture a spectrum of light and divides it into hundreds or thousands of narrow spectral bands or channels with typical widths up to 10 and 20 nm.
The absorption spectrum of pure water is used in numerous applications, including light scattering and absorption by ice crystals and cloud water droplets, theories of the rainbow, determination of the single-scattering albedo, ocean color, and many others.
The blue sky spectrum contains light at all visible wavelengths with a broad maximum around 450–485 nm, the wavelengths of the color blue. Diffuse sky radiation is solar radiation reaching the Earth 's surface after having been scattered from the direct solar beam by molecules or particulates in the atmosphere .
, is the spectral radiant flux in wavelength received by that material; T λ {\displaystyle T_{\lambda }} is the spectral transmittance in wavelength of that material. Spectral absorbance is related to spectral optical depth by: τ ν = A ν ln 10 , {\displaystyle \tau _{\nu }=A_{\nu }\ln 10,} τ λ = A λ ln 10 , {\displaystyle \tau ...