Although reflectance and albedo have certain similarities, they are not interchangeable. A surface's albedo is determined by the materials that make up that surface. Albedo is commonly used to refer to both visible and infrared light reflection. In addition, astronomy and climate science are the fields where albedo is most commonly employed. The surface qualities of a material have a far greater impact on albedo than its overall thickness does. In contrast, reflectance is independent of the medium. Each type of reflected energy is collectively referred to as reflectance. The concept of reflectance is becoming increasingly widely employed in the ... Read More