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Solar radiation reflected from a water surface follows the basic laws of radiation as given in the Guide and Data Book (2) and other references. However, the changing nature of natural water surfaces with winds requires examination of these effects in more detail.

Experiments indicate that reflected solar radiation from smooth water surfaces is essentially specular in nature. Thus most of the reflected energy is contained in a narrow angle approximately equal to the angle of incidence (solar angle). Using the Fresnel equations the solar reflection from water would be as shown in Fig. 1. Verification of the-reflection values was investigated experimentally and the values found are given in this paper.

Citation: ASHRAE Transactions, Volume 80, Part 2, Montreal QC