Final answer:
The term Valerie would use to describe the measure of reflectivity of a surface is reflectance. This term is important in environmental science to understand how changes in reflectivity influence the amount of solar energy entering Earth's system. Reflectance is part of a broader set of concepts that help describe the interactions between light and materials in the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reflectivity in Environmental Science
Valerie would use the term reflectance to describe the measure of reflectivity of a surface. In the context of environmental effects, this is crucial as changes in reflectivity of visible light affect how much energy enters Earth's system. The term albedo represents the amount of solar radiation that a surface reflects, which is directly related to the concept of reflectance. Reflective surfaces have a higher reflectance, while absorptive surfaces, which more closely model a perfect blackbody, have a lower reflectance. Studies of reflectance are vital in understanding the environmental impacts of solar radiation on Earth's climate and ecosystems.
When discussing the interaction of light with surfaces, scientists also consider other terms such as absorbance, transmittance, refraction, and emission or absorption spectra. The reflection spectrum would describe the pattern of light reflected from a surface, which may vary depending on the surface's properties. Absorbance occurs when a material captures the energy of a light wave, while transmittance is the process of light traveling through a material. Refraction involves the bending of light as it passes from one medium into another. All of these concepts play a role in how light is distributed and perceived in our environment and are critical for studies in environmental biology.