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The balance between energy absorbed by the earth and energy reflected back into space is fundamental in determining how warm or cool the planet becomes. The proportion of radiation reflected away by a surface is called its albedo. Albedo can range between 0 (no reflectance) and 1 (complete reflectanceâlike a mirror). The earthâs average albedo is .31, which means that, overall, the planet reflects about 31% of incoming solar radiation back into space.
Insolation can be direct or diffuse. Direct radiation is solar radiation received by the Earthâs surface and/or atmosphere that has not been altered by atmospheric scattering. Diffused radiation is solar radiation that has been modified by scattering.his intense solar radiation as it is known in physical geography originates in the sunâs core and is eventually sent to Earth after convection (the vertical movement of energy) forces it away from the sunâs core.