Prediction of downward flux of atmospheric radiation from clear skies

Abstract

At present, there are two approaches to the prediction of downward flux of atmospheric radiation at the earth's surface. One can use either empirical correlations or radiation charts. The empirical correlations, being very elementary, do not always agree with observations made under different conditions. The radiation charts on the other hand require detailed knowledge of temperature and water vapour profiles. In the present paper, a semi-empirical approach is advocated. The emissivity of water vapour measured in the laboratory is used to predict the atmospheric downward radiation. Since the laboratory data are based on a homogeneous atmosphere, suitable pressure scaling is employed to take into account the non-homogeneity in the earth's atmosphere. The atmospheric downward radiation is obtained as a function of local temperature, water vapour scale height, and temperature lapse rate. It is shown that the resulting predictions agree somewhat better with observations than do the predictions based on empirical correlations.