Radiative Heating of the Global Atmosphere

Abstract

Monthly zonal mean global radiative heating rates have been obtained from the surface to 10 mb for all twelve months. Seasonal profiles of the contribution by each constituent are presented in addition to seasonal profiles of net thermal cooling and total radiative heating. Radiation cools the troposphere almost everywhere primarily due to thermal cooling by water vapor with the cooling a maximum in the tropics. The tropical stratosphere is heated by radiation due principally to thermal and solar heating by ozone. This total radiative heating extends into the stratosphere mid-latitudes but higher latitudes exhibit cooling due primarily to thermal cooling by CO₂ with the warmer hemisphere showing more cooling. Comparison with previous theory in the Northern Hemisphere shows qualitative agreement although the present study has more resolution because of the better specification of the radiative parameters, in particular, ozone and temperature.