The Effect of Atmospheric Attenuators with Structured Vertical Distributions on Air Mass Determinations and Langley Plot Analyses

Abstract

The effect of vertical inhomogeneities of atmospheric attenuators upon determinations of air mass and upon Langley plot determinations of the extra-atmospheric solar irradiance is examined and found to be significant, especially when accuracies of 0.1% are required, as in our current solar monitoring program. Ozone air mass values are found to differ greatly from those of the homogeneously mixed atmosphere for zenith angles greater than 60°. Abstract The effect of vertical inhomogeneities of atmospheric attenuators upon determinations of air mass and upon Langley plot determinations of the extra-atmospheric solar irradiance is examined and found to be significant, especially when accuracies of 0.1% are required, as in our current solar monitoring program. Ozone air mass values are found to differ greatly from those of the homogeneously mixed atmosphere for zenith angles greater than 60°.