ABSTRACT
The surface albedo () is a fundamental surface property and one which can be relatively easily altered by simple surface treatment. The value of a directly determines the absorptivity of an opaque surface. Thus for a given solar input (K¯) it regulates the surface short-wave absorption (K*), and this in turn dominates the daytime net radiation budget (Q*). This sets the limit to the surface energy balance, and the inter-related water balance, and thereby controls the thermal and moisture climate of the surface and the adjacent air and soil layers. Manipulation of a therefore invokes a considerable climatic chain reaction.
