Accession Number:

ADA076267

Title:

Tropospheric Water Vapor Absorption in the Infrared Window Regions.

Descriptive Note:

Doctoral thesis,

Corporate Author:

OHIO STATE UNIV COLUMBUS ELECTROSCIENCE LAB

Personal Author(s):

• Thomas,Michael E.

Report Date:

1979-08-01

Pagination or Media Count:

251.0

Abstract:

Attenuation of infrared radiation in the troposphere is dominated by water vapor absorption. Most past work on the spectroscopy of water vapor has been on the analysis of the rotational and vibrational bands. As a result a thorough listing of line positions, line strengths and halfwidths exists today. Because of the weak continuum absorption in the water vapor windows centered at 10 and 4 microns, efforts to measure and model the continuum have not been as successful as efforts in the analysis of the bands. Yet a precise understanding of continuum absorption is important for long path energy transmission. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the importance of far wing phenomena in characterizing H2O continuum absorption. A total line shape for water vapor-nitrogen interactions valid under tropospheric conditions is derived. The model is tested using a set of experimental room temperature H2O continuum measurements of high quality. Using this data base parameters of the far wing component of the total line shape are determined.

Descriptors:

• *LIGHT TRANSMISSION
• *INFRARED RADIATION
• *TROPOSPHERE
• *WATER VAPOR
• *INFRARED WINDOWS
• LASER BEAMS
• WAVE PROPAGATION
• ATTENUATION
• ABSORPTION
• ABSORPTION SPECTRA
• CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
• CARBON MONOXIDE LASERS

Subject Categories:

• Atmospheric Physics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE