This is a classic heat transfer problem from college engineering. The
heat transfered by radiation is proportional to the emissivity of the surface.
Most paint emissivities range from .98 for flat black to as low as .8 for some
very shiny paints. Oxidized aluminum, like my plane, would run .25, while a
highly polished aluminum surface could be as low as .04.

The other part of the heat transfer equation is that the transfer is
proportional to the ratio of the temperatures to the fourth power. That is
why something as far away as the sun is such a great heat source. It's
temperature is very high.

Finally, the radiant heat transfer is effected by the "view" of one surface to
the other. This part is very complicated to calculate, depending on the
geometry. I never was worth a crap at this part of the calculations.

Have fun,
tom pettit

radiation-induced cooling and icing than a dark-colored plane would be,
all else being equal.


I get the sun heating darker surfaces up (many degrees!) more than an
identical white surface.

What I don't get is: Two wings of identical design and an identical starting
temp, both sitting out on a cold February night (no sun). How does the dark
wing get colder than the white wing?