Albedo is appeared in the radiation budget equation, Rn=(1-albedo)Rs+Ldown-Lup, where Rn is the net radiation, Rs is the shortwave irradiance, and L is the longwave radiation. Rs and L can be calculated by using empirical equation with sufficient accuracy, however, albedo is hard to estimate. Many models often use empirical values assigned to various land cover types. Because the accuracy of albedo  directry affect to the net radiation, it is very important to know the actual albedo values. So, this page offers the measured albedo for various land cover type.

Note) Please refer to original papers when you use the values.

• Matthews(1984) Seasonal Albedo
  
  • Global Ecosystem Database : Matthews Seasonal Albedo
• Kotoda(1986) Monthly Albedo
  

• FOREST
  • Pine Forest in Japan: Sugita and Kotoda(1991)>
  • Temperate deciduous forest in Japan: Watanabe et al.(1996)
• GRASSLAND
  • Pasture in Japan: Nakagawa(1982)
  • Grassland in Mongolia: Miyazaki et al.(1998)
  • Grassland and Paddy in Japan: Higuchi et al.(2000)
• PADDY FIELD
  • Paddy field in Tohoku district, Japan: Ishida et al.(1997)
  • Grassland and Paddy in Japan: Higuchi et al.(2000)
• BARE SOIL
  • Bare soil(Kanto loam), Japan: Nakagawa(1979)