Results of a Comprehensive Atmospheric Aerosol-Radiation Experiment in the Southwestern United States. Part II: Radiation Flux Measurements and Theoretical Interpretation

J. J. DeLuisi National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colo. 80303

Search for other papers by J. J. DeLuisi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
P. M. Furukawa National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colo. 80303

Search for other papers by P. M. Furukawa in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
D. A. Gillette National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colo. 80303

Search for other papers by D. A. Gillette in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
B. G. Schuster National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colo. 80303

Search for other papers by B. G. Schuster in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
R. J. Charlson Departments of Civil Engineering, Water and Air Resources, University of Washington, Seattle 98195

Search for other papers by R. J. Charlson in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
W. M. Porch Departments of Civil Engineering, Water and Air Resources, University of Washington, Seattle 98195

Search for other papers by W. M. Porch in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
R. W. Fegley Mauna Loa Observatory, NOAA ARL, Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Search for other papers by R. W. Fegley in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
B. M. Herman Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721

Search for other papers by B. M. Herman in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
R. A. Rabinoff Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721

Search for other papers by R. A. Rabinoff in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
J. T. Twitty Department of Meteorology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706

Search for other papers by J. T. Twitty in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
J. A. Weinman Department of Meteorology, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706

Search for other papers by J. A. Weinman in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Full access

Abstract

The experimental results in Part I are used in the theoretical interpretation of the radiation flux measurements which were taken with an aircraft. The absorption term of the complex refractive index of aerosols is estimated to be approximately 0.01 for a real part of 1.5 for the wavelength bandwidth 0.32–0.68 μm. A regional variation in the refractive index is noted.

Atmospheric heating and cooling rates due to aerosol and molecular absorption in the solar and terrestrial wavelengths are determined from the radiation flux measurements. The magnitudes of these rates are compared and their relative importance is discussed.

Abstract

The experimental results in Part I are used in the theoretical interpretation of the radiation flux measurements which were taken with an aircraft. The absorption term of the complex refractive index of aerosols is estimated to be approximately 0.01 for a real part of 1.5 for the wavelength bandwidth 0.32–0.68 μm. A regional variation in the refractive index is noted.

Atmospheric heating and cooling rates due to aerosol and molecular absorption in the solar and terrestrial wavelengths are determined from the radiation flux measurements. The magnitudes of these rates are compared and their relative importance is discussed.

Save