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RESEARCH PRODUCT

The Influence of Trace Substances on the Atmospheric Energy Budget

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ABSTRACT The most effective absorbers of solar radiation in the system earth-atmosphere are the earth's surface layer, the atmospheric water vapor, ozone and oxygen. In the troposphere water vapor is dominant, in the lower stratosphere ozone. The absorption contribution due to carbon dioxide may be neglected in both regions of the atmosphere. The contribution of aerosol particles is significant only close to the earth's surface. Here the absorption by aerosol particles equals the effect by water vapor. This fact and the following properties of aerosol particles motivate a special treatment. Particles absorb; particles scatter and elongate the optical path of solar radiation through the absorbing gaseous atmosphere; the particle load of the atmosphere is strongly affected by human activities. The increase of the particle load will increase the loss of energy (low albedo) or increase the gain of energy (high albedo), it will redistribute the energy within the system and attenuate the temperature difference between the earth's surface and the atmospheric surface layer. Similar results can be found for the horizontal temperature gradient. For circulation and climate modelling it would be desirable to study the global distribution and change of the atmospheric particle concentration.