N2O and H2O Atmospheric Thermal Emissions

Abstract

Atmospheric thermal emission spectra 4.1–6.3 μm have been measured at a spectral resolution of 140 Å under clear skies for low ground temperatures (~273 K) and low absolute humidities (~1.6 g m−3). Specific emission features attributed to atmospheric H2O and N2O have been interpreted in terms of a simple layer model of the atmosphere. Spectra obtained from a brown smog and an ice fog urban atmosphere are compared with spectra from a clear atmosphere.