Albedo: meaning, definitions and examples

Mainly used in scientific contexts, particularly in astronomy and climatology, to describe the reflectivity of a surface or body, usually of planets, moons, and other celestial objects.

• The Earth's albedo has a significant impact on its climate
• The higher the albedo, the more sunlight is reflected back into space

Often used in scientific and engineering contexts to describe the property of a surface or material in reflecting light or other electromagnetic radiation. Reflectivity is usually quantified in percentage.

• The reflectivity of solar panels is an important factor in their efficiency
• The reflectivity of surfaces in urban areas can contribute to the heat island effect

Commonly used in everyday language to describe how much light something emits or reflects. It can be applied to a wide range of contexts from the brightness of a screen to the brightness of a star.

• I need to adjust the brightness of my computer screen
• The brightness of the star made it easily visible in the night sky

Specifically refers to the intrinsic brightness of a celestial object, such as a star, measured in terms of the total amount of energy emitted per unit time. This term is more technical and used in the field of astronomy.

• The luminosity of the sun is a crucial factor in determining the habitability of planets in the solar system
• Astronomers are measuring the luminosity of distant galaxies to understand their composition