Defining Top-of-the-Atmosphere Flux Reference Level for Earth Radiation Budget Studies

• Published in: Journal of climate Vol. 15; no. 22; pp. 3301 - 3309
• Main Authors: Loeb, NG, Kato, S, Wielicki, BA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.2002

To estimate the earth's radiation budget at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) from satellite-measured radiances, it is necessary to account for the finite geometry of the earth and recognize that the earth is a solid body surrounded by a translucent atmosphere of finite thickness that attenuates...