Direct Measurement of Water Vapor Absorption of Solar Radiation in the Free Atmosphere

Abstract

Aircraft measurements of the vertical profile of net shortwave flux and atmospheric water vapor over the ocean agree with Yamamoto's calculated relation between shortwave absorptivity and water path over the range of water paths 0.01 to 3 cm. The measurements indicate also that some fairly severe form of pressure correction needs to be applied to water path information used in this connection. Data obtained on two very hazy days indicate extra absorption on those days of about 5%.