Albedo Effects of Biomass Production: A Review
Sep 2017
Publications
This joint IEA Bioenergy Task 38 and Task 43 report presents an overview of the drivers of albedo, reviews measured albedo changes linked to vegetation changes or to bioenergy production systems, and reports on studies that have calculated the relative contribution of change in albedo to the overall radiative forcing of bioenergy projects. The main conclusion is that albedo-driven radiative forcing can have a substantial positive or negative impact, and its determination must be carried out on a case-by-case basis. Further, the analysis must be carried out using an appropriate metric to properly represent the time dynamics of surface albedo in biomass systems.