Surface reflectance refers to the proportion of light that a surface reflects compared to the total light that hits it. This property is crucial in fields like remote sensing, where it helps in understanding how different materials, such as vegetation or water, interact with sunlight. In remote sensing, surface reflectance is measured using sensors on satellites or aircraft. These measurements allow scientists to analyze land cover, monitor environmental changes, and assess the health of ecosystems. Accurate surface reflectance data is essential for applications in agriculture, forestry, and climate studies, providing insights into the Earth's surface conditions.