Skyglow from ground-reflected radiation: model improvements

ABSTRACT Light from ground-based sources directed into the upper hemisphere can be partially controlled, for example, through suitable lamp shades or by reducing the number of luminaires and their lumen output. However, ground-reflected radiation is pervasive in artificially lit urban environments and cannot be entirely avoided. This component of upward-directed light is typically modelled using Lambertian diffuse reflection. Here, we demonstrate that the current analytical models for ground-reflected radiation can be improved by incorporating additional components, such as reflections from vertically oriented surfaces and vegetation. Our findings indicate that near edges of cities, the contribution of the reflected radiation to the overall skyglow is slightly higher than recent models predict. However, at medium-to-long distances the skyglow increases by 50–200 per cent compared to what these models suggest. This is because non-horizontal surfaces reflect more light towards small angles above the horizontal, contrasting with the outcomes predicted by the basic Lambertian framework. Consequently, light escaping from ground-based sources can propagate more effectively over longer distances, even when there is a complete cutoff of light emitted from luminaires in the upper half-space. These findings have significant implications for skyglow modelling. Furthermore, it also limits the available options for implementing measures to reduce skyglow levels at astronomical observatories located well beyond city boundaries.