Upwelling UV spectral irradiances and surface albedo measurements at Lauder, New Zealand

Simultaneous measurements of upwelling and downwelling ultraviolet (UV) spectral irradiance were used to deduce the wavelength dependence and the solar zenith angle dependence of the albedo of the ground surface (long grass) at Lauder, New Zealand (45.05 degrees S, 169.68 degrees E). In the UVB region the deduced albedos are approximately 1%. At longer wavelengths the albedo increases to approximately 2% at 400 nm, and 4.5% at 450 nm. These albedos are significantly smaller than those generally quoted for the visible region. The deduced albedos tend to increase at larger solar zenith angles, demonstrating that the surface is not strictly Lambertian.