Measurements of solar ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere

Abstract

Abstract In order to improve the accuracy of the fundamental data required for calculations of the photo‐chemical production of ozone, the intensity of the solar ultraviolet light, λ ≈︁ 2100 Å, which penetrates to the lower stratosphere, has been measured with the sun directly overhead. The radiation was first detected at the 196 mb level where the flux was 2 × 10 8 photons cm −2 sec −1 and two of three ascents reached the 6 mb level where the flux was 1.2 × 10 13 ph cm −2 sec −1 . The results of calculations of the expected intensity at different levels are also presented and adjustments to the data used are found to be necessary in order to obtain agreement with the measurements.