Reflectivity

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Reflectivity

</dt>
1. A measure of the fraction of radiation reflected by a given surface; defined as the ratio of the radiant energy reflected to the total that is incident upon that surface. Compare reflection coefficient. See radar reflectivity. </dd>
The reflectivity of any given substance is, in general, a variable strongly dependent upon the wavelength of the radiation in question. The reflectivity of a given surface for a specified broad spectral range, such as the visible spectrum or the solar spectrum, is referred to as the albedo. </dd>
2. In thermal radiation, a property of a material, measured as the reflectance of a specimen of the material that is thick enough to be completely opaque and has an optically smooth surface. [[/a>|/a> ]]

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use