Albedometers from Kipp & Zonen

How it works

Kipp and Zonen albedometers comprise two pyranometers (either the SMP or CMP range) mounted on a plate back to back — one facing upwards, one downwards — each fitted with a sun shield so it only receives the correct irradiance. For example, the upward-facing pyranometer will not receive reflected radiation from the ground.

Albedo measures reflectivity: how much light a surface reflects versus absorbs. Lighter surfaces reflect more radiation (high albedo); darker surfaces absorb more and reflect less (low albedo).

Build options

Because Kipp and Zonen's pyranometers make up their albedometers, meeting any budget or accuracy requirement is possible. For high-level meteorological applications, an albedometer built with two SMP21 pyranometers is available; for accurate measurements on a budget, two SMP6 pyranometers provide the best match. Mixing pyranometer models within a single albedometer is not possible.

A Kipp and Zonen CVF4 ventilation unit is available to prevent ice and snow settling on the domes; it acts as a heater and ventilator that maintains air temperature and reduces dust build-up.

Deployment

Albedometers ship with a mounting rod attached to the mounting plate, which can be attached to an appropriate pole or structure. They are used for studying the albedo of glaciers and polar regions, and for monitoring bifacial PV panel performance in utility-scale solar farms.