Application of the novel satellite calibrated method “Radiative Forcing Meter” on a high albedo test facility for CO2 compensation

The increase of terrestrial albedo may be considered a key strategy to mitigate global warming, since it produces a reduction of the radiative forcing (RF). The RF concept, as defined by IPCC, is used in literature for calculations of the CO2 compensation due to albedo increase, which can be achieved by the development of high-albedo solutions (cool materials, retro-reflective materials, green infrastructures, etc.). The authors have previously proposed a new procedure, called RF-meter, to measure the continuous time history of the RF due to an albedo increase (RFΔα) and so to calculate the related CO2 offset potential by high-albedo solutions. RF-meter procedure is based on the continuous albedo measurements at ground level and discrete satellite calibration. The proposed method is tested on a high-albedo surface (HAS) of 900 m2 treated with a high-reflective paint installed on the roof of CIRIAF building, University of Perugia, Italy. The experimental field is equipped with an albedometer, a weather station and a Calculus Unit. The measured data are elaborated by the Calculus Unit to calculate the RF time history and the compensated CO2. Data from albedo monitoring exhibited that albedo of HAS was always higher than albedo before the treatment (α0) and the average Δα is equal to 0.3. The calibration procedure allows to reduce the errors on RFΔα calculation. The maximum difference between albedo values from albedometer and satellite measurements resulted equal to 3.9%. Results from the Calculus Unit showed an amount of CO2 compensated by HAS equal to 73 kgCO2eq/m2.