Measured reflection from snow

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation of reflection from snow. Based on measurements of the reflected radiation and global radiation from a test facility in Sisimiut, Greenland, the effective albedo for the ground is determined. The influence of snow on the effective albedo is presented, and a high contribution from the specular reflection is seen. The effective albedo from snow-covered ground is compared with the effective albedo on a summer day without snow. The effective albedo is much higher for the snow-covered ground than the effective albedo for the ground without snow. In the summer the reflection happens as diffuse reflection and as backward reflection, because of the uneven terrain. There is no specular reflection.