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Solar constant
About: Solar constant is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 967 publications have been published within this topic receiving 29647 citations.
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01 Jan 1988
TL;DR: The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) data studied at present are as follows: (1) solar data from ERBS, NOAA-9, and NOAA-10 as discussed by the authors, which serve as a calibration check on the earth viewing radiometers, as well as provide the experimental value of the solar constant needed in net radiation computations.
Abstract: The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) data studied at present are as follows: (1) Solar Data from ERBS, NOAA-9, and NOAA-10. The solar total irradiance data obtained by the ERBE solar monitors serve as a calibration check on the earth viewing radiometers, as well as provide the experimental value of the solar constant needed in the net radiation computations. (2) The collocated satellite altitude irradiances from ERBS and Nimbus-7 Earth Radiation Budget Measurements are investigated. The sun-synchronous, near-local-noon Nimbus-7 satellite has coincident orbital intersections with the non-sun-synchronous ERBS spacecraft. The objective here is to compare the WFOV and MFOV (wide and medium field-of-view) observations of the ERBS/ERBE, and the Nimbus-7 ERB data sets at the points of their orbital intersections. (3) Globally and zonally averaged ERBE/ERBS data are examined. Investigations of the globally and zonally averaged ERB obtained from the ERBS SCANNER, MFOV and WFOV and the Nimbus-7 WFOV is being carried out to assess the sensor performance.
154 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors recalculate the evolution of surface temperature over the last 4.25 billion year time period, using the same scenario for CO2 partial pressures and solar constant as employed by the previous authors.
Abstract: Large concentrations of atmospheric CO2 in the atmosphere of the early earth have been proposed as a possible explanation of the apparent absence of frozen earth in spite of a faint early sun. However, the most thorough treatments of this question, by Owen et al. (1979) and Kasting et al. (1984), apparently disagree as to the warming effects of large amounts of CO2. We recalculate the evolution of surface temperature over the last 4.25 billion year time period, using the same scenario for CO2 partial pressures and solar constant as employed by the previous authors. We find good agreement with Kasting et al. (1984) and also explain why the results of Owen et al. are at variance with our findings and those of Kasting et al. Using the concept of direct radiative forcing, we present analytic relations between the solar luminosity and CO2 mixing ratio required to maintain the troposphere close to its present thermal structure. As a by-product, we present new broadband parameterizations for the 961 and 1064 cm−1 CO2 bands that can be used in climate models. We also consider the direct radiative forcing of large amounts of CH4, or changes in model clouds, and discuss how these might reduce the CO2 mixing ratio required to balance the faint early sun.
152 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an analytical solution for the effective albedo, the effective emissivity, and the radiative equilibrium temperature in the shadowed portions of a spherical bowl-shaped crater is presented.
150 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, high-altitude aircraft, balloon and spacecraft measurements of the extraterrestrial solar irradiances indicate that the earlier integral wavelength value was too high and that the spectral data derived from ground-based techniques were uncertain.
Abstract: Recent high-altitude aircraft, balloon and spacecraft measurements of the extraterrestrial solar irradiances indicate that the earlier integral wavelength value was too high and that the spectral data derived from ground-based techniques were uncertain. Standard values are proposed here with a summary of the supporting evidence.
148 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a series of simple models of the albedo feedback mechanism and its effect on the global climate are solved analytically, and it is found that increasing the efficiency of the poleward transport of energy increases this sensitivity.
Abstract: A series of simple models of the albedo feedback mechanism and its effect on the global climate are solved analytically. All of the models are similar to one considered by Budyko. The seasonal variation in incident solar radiation is ignored. Emphasis is placed on the parameter dependence of the models' sensitivity to changes in the solar constant. It is found in all cases that increasing the efficiency of the poleward transport of energy increases this sensitivity. It is also suggested that knowledge of the partitioning of the transport between the atmosphere and the oceans is of considerable importance for estimating sensitivity. The stability of equilibrium states is determined from the properties of small perturbations away from equilibrium. It is observed that relaxation times of perturbations can be increased considerably by the albedo feedback mechanism. The effect of variations in the obliquity of the planet's orbit on sensitivity and stability is also analyzed. The results indicate that albedo feedback may increase the significance of obliquity variations on Mars, as well as on the Earth. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1974.tb01641.x
147 citations