How do you calculate surface reflectance?
William Taylor
Updated on June 08, 2026
Relative total reflectance is measured by shining light on the sample at an incident angle of about 10 degrees or less (8 degrees for Shimadzu integrating spheres) and using an integrating sphere to measure not only the diffuse reflected light, but also the specular reflected light.
What is the reflectance of a surface?
Surface reflectance is the amount of light reflected by the surface of the Earth. It is a ratio of surface radiance to surface irradiance, and as such is unitless, with values between 0 and 1.
How do you calculate light reflectance value?
This contrast is calculated using the following formula: (B1 – B2) x 100 / B1, where B1 and B2 are the LRV of the lighter area and darker area, respectively. The LRV can be obtained using the CIE Y values measured under the illuminant D65 (natural daylight) and 10° observer.
How is total reflectance calculated?
Relative total reflectance is measured by shining light on the sample at an incident angle of about 10 degrees or less (8 degrees for most integrating spheres) and using an integrating sphere to measure not only the diffuse reflected light, but also the specular reflected light.
What is percent reflectance?
Reflectance is the ratio of energy reflected to the total energy incident on a body, expressed in percentage. An object appears green because it reflects only wavelengths corresponding to green color in the visible spectrum.
What is the reflectance of glass?
For specular surfaces, such as glass or polished metal, reflectance is nearly zero at all angles except at the appropriate reflected angle; that is the same angle with respect to the surface normal in the plane of incidence, but on the opposing side.
What is reflectance lighting?
Basically, light reflectance values are how much light a color on a surface reflects or absorbs said light. The scale runs from 0% meaning it reflects no visible light at all to 100% meaning it reflects all the light on the surface.
What is reflectance equation?
Reflectance is defined as the ratio of the radiant flux reflected from the surface or body of a material (фr) to the incident radiant flux (фi). Reflectance is denoted by ρ (or p). The reflectance is a ratio of radiant flux. Therefore, it is unitless.
What are the reflectance properties?
The reflectance of soil depends on the chemical and physical properties of its components, organic matter, texture, moisture, surface roughness, and sun angle. Soils usually have a higher reflectance than plants in the visible bands. Typical curve shows rising reflectivity with increase in wavelength.