Optical Properties of the Atmosphere

Abstract : An understanding of the interaction between infrared radiation and the earth's atmosphere is necessary in a number of disciplines. Data pertinent to this problem have been and will be obtained by recording the solar spectrum in various wavelength intervals at various altitudes above the earth's surface during a series of balloon flights. During this period a balloon flight was made to obtain transmittance data in the 2.7 micrometers region, and two flights have been made to obtain data concerning the background radiance in various wavelength regions at high altitudes. Reduction of the data obtained during the last flights made under the preceding contract has been completed and analyses of these data are in progress.