A radiative transfer model is presented that makes it possible to calculate the interaction between sea ice and solar radiation from the near ultraviolet to 2750 nm as a function of the physical characteristics of the ice. The bubble density and brine distribution are related to the ice salinity, temperature, bulk density, initial growth rate, and thermal history. Spectral albedos and corresponding asymptotic extinction coefficients are presented for a representative range of initial formation conditions and subsequent temperature variations. A comparison is made with observations for conditions where the ice can be approximated by a single homogeneous layer, and theoretical and observational results are found to be in agreement. Of particular significance is that the wavelength dependence for both albedos and extinction coefficients appears to be accurate. For more general application, however, a multilayer model is needed.