Optical Sounding II. Some Experiments Relating to Passive Optical Atmospheric Sounding Techniques

摘要

The report describes two experiments that were performed on problems related to passive atmospheric sounding. (1) An experiment was performed at Acadia National Park during the total solar eclipse that occurred on July 20, 1963 in order to determine the relative contributions of solar scattering to the sky spectral radiance at 4.15 microns. It was found that the variation of spectral radiance that occurred during the period of 90 seconds prior to totality and 90 seconds past totality could be accounted for by variations in cloud emission and that scattering at this wavelength was negligible. (2) A computer experiment was performed in order to test the sensitivity of the spectral sky radiance to a series of atmospheric thermal and moisture profiles. The spectral radiance was computed as a function of elevation scan angle and wavelength within the 4.3 micron band of carbon dioxide. (Author)