MOLECULAR ATMOSPHERIC TRANSMITTANCE FUNCTION IN THE RANGE OF 2-400 MU-M AND EARTH RADIATION BALANCE

Mechanisms of the influence of the atmospheric transmission function, in the range 2-400 mu m and especially in the windows 8-13 and 3-4 mu m, on the thermal balance of the Earth's atmosphere are discussed. The negative and positive feedbacks between the absorption of the outgoin g heat radiation in the atmosphere and the heating of the Earth's surf ace are considered. The database GEISA-92, which provides spectral lin e parameters of atmospheric constituents, has been used for simulation s of infrared radiation transfer and the Earth's radiation balance. Th e temperature dependence of the molecular transmission function is cal culated, and three steady states for Earth radiation balance are obtai ned. A type of the radiation balance, leading to ''closing'' of the at mospheric transmittance window 8-13 mu m and development of the explos ive greenhouse effect, is discussed. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.