Optical and thermal properties of commercial polymer film, modeling the albedo effect

Abstract

Greenhouse cladding materials are an important part of greenhouse design. The cladding material controls the light transmission and distribution over the plants within the greenhouse, thereby exerting a major influence on the overall yield. Greenhouse claddings are typically translucent materials offering more diffusive transmission than reflection, however the reflective properties of the films offer a potential route to increasing the surface albedo of the local environment. We model thermal properties by modelling the films based on their optical transmissions and reflections. We can use this data to estimate their albedo and determine the amount of short wave radiation that will be transmitted/reflected/blocked by the materials and how it can influence the local environment.