IX. Atmospheric absorption of heat radiation by water vapour

Abstract

Summary The absorption of heat radiation by water vapour in the atmosphere is considered. It is shown that existing experimental results are all consistent with Lorentz collision-broadening. A law is derived for the variation of absorption with amount of water vapour; this law differs somewhat from that proposed by Elsasser, indicating a slower extinction of radiation than the latter. The correction for pressure variations is found to be greater than Elsasser's normally; the temperature correction agrees with his.