Methodology and Additional Source Info: This data was measured by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Landsat 8 satellite's dataset acquired from USGS Earth Explorer. The data was compiled and mapped for Fairfax County through a partnership between the Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) and the NASA DEVELOP program as part of the "Resilient Fairfax" Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan process.

Description: Dark colored surfaces such as black asphalt left in the sun get hot. Lighter-colored objects such as white roofs reflect the sun and so do not get as hot. This is called "albedo." On a large scale, albedo contributes to the "urban heat island effect," where areas with many parking lots, roads, and dense, dark-colored buildings are significantly hotter than other areas in the county. This map layer illustrates average albedo values for Fairfax County. Lighter blues indicate lighter colors, which means higher albedo and more reflectivity. Darker blues indicate darker colors, which means lower albedo and more absorption of solar energy.

Methodology and Additional Source Info: This data was measured by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Landsat 8 satellite's dataset acquired from USGS Earth Explorer. The data was compiled and mapped for Fairfax County through a partnership between the Fairfax County Office of Environmental and Energy Coordination (OEEC) and the NASA DEVELOP program as part of the "Resilient Fairfax" Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan process.

Description: Dark colored surfaces such as black asphalt left in the sun get hot. Lighter-colored objects such as white roofs reflect the sun and so do not get as hot. This is called "albedo." On a large scale, albedo contributes to the "urban heat island effect," where areas with many parking lots, roads, and dense, dark-colored buildings are significantly hotter than other areas in the county. This map layer illustrates average albedo values for Fairfax County. Lighter blues indicate lighter colors, which means higher albedo and more reflectivity. Darker blues indicate darker colors, which means lower albedo and more absorption of solar energy.