Radiation measurements over the Caribbean during the autumn of 1960
Date
1962-03
Authors
Riehl, Herbert, 1915-, author
Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisher
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Abstract
Observations made over the Caribbean Sea with the Suomi-Kuhn infrared radiometer during 1960 are analyzed. About 120 soundings released at five stations ascended to the 100-mb level or beyond. Compared to Elsasserchart calculations, they show greater cooling below 800 mb and much smaller cooling higher up. In the high troposphere a radiational heat source due to long-wave radiation a lone is found. It follows that vertical heat transport requirements from the surface by convective means, for heat balance, are much less than previously estimated. Fragmentary observations above 100 mb indicate that the outward radiative flux increases above the tropopause and gradually approaches the values obtained from Explorer VII measurements. Strong cooling of the air above the tropopause is computed, as much as five times that of the troposphere. Day-to-day fluctuation of net radiation from the troposphere was large, as was the range of observed fluxes. Statistical analysis indicated that the control of the net radiation from the troposphere lies mainly in the high troposphere, in the layer of maximum wind. It is shown that a cirrus hypothesis of this control is at least plausible, and that differential radiation can be sufficiently strong to be of considerable possible importance for the growth and evolution of daily weather systems.
Description
CER62HR13.
March 1962.
Includes bibliographical references (page 12).
Prepared for the U.S. Weather Bureau.
March 1962.
Includes bibliographical references (page 12).
Prepared for the U.S. Weather Bureau.
Rights Access
Subject
Radiation -- Measurement -- Caribbean Area