Term: albedo
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00202

Definition:
The fraction of the energy of electromagnetic radiation reflected from a body (or surface) relative to the energy incident upon it. The reflection of light from a surface is, of course, dependent on the wavelength of the light, the nature of the surface and its angle of incidence with the surface. The term albedo usually connotes a broad wavelength band (visible, ultraviolet or infrared), whereas the terms reflectivity and spectral albedo are used to describe the reflection of monochromatic (single wavelength or small band of wavelengths) radiation.

Related Terms:
1) wavelength (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.W06659).
2) angle (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00346).
3) infrared (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.IT07399).

Source: PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. 'Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)' on page 2173 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062112167)

Citation: 'albedo' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00202

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