Abstract

The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) satellite system is concerned with the measurement of total radiation both entering and leaving the Earth-atmosphere system. In order to improve scientific understanding of radiation phenomena, optical experiments are being conducted in support of the satellite measurements to better determine both stratospheric and tropospheric components for specific atmospheric and surface albedo conditions. Such data may also be used to validate various radiative transfer models which are used to analyze data from other satellite systems. This paper describes the combination of radiometric and lidar measurements as well as analytical procedures which are used for spectral characterization of both downwelling and upwelling radiation in stratified atmospheres. Results are given from the first in the series of experiments.

© 1985 Optical Society of America