Class C albedometer SRA01

spectrally flatfor photovoltaic systems

SRA01 albedometer measures global and reflected solar radiation and solar albedo. It consists of two identical, spectrally flat Class C pyranometers with thermopile sensors—one facing upward to measure global solar radiation, the other facing downward to measure reflected solar radiation. SRA01 is fully compliant with the latest ISO and WMO standards. Albedo, also referred to as solar reflectance, is the ratio of reflected to global radiation. The solar albedo depends on the directional distribution of incoming radiation and on the surface properties at ground level. Albedos of typical surfaces range from about 4 % for fresh asphalt to 15 % for green grass and up to 90 % for fresh snow. Albedo can be measured using the SRA01 albedometer. Using the SRA01 is easy. The albedometer is composed of two pyranometers (model SR01): the upfacing one measures global solar radiation and the downfacing one measures reflected solar radiation. The irradiance in each direction (W/m2) is calculated by dividing the pyranometer output, a small voltage, by its sensitivity—which is provided on the SRA01 product certificate. Albedo is calculated by dividing the two results. The albedometer can be connected directly to commonly used data logging systems. More details on working principles and specifications of the pyranometers can be found in the SRA01 user manual. Applications Albedometers are used for general meteorological observations, building physics, roof reflectance studies, climate studies, and solar collector testing. Most applications require outdoor installation, as part of a meteorological station.