Nimbus II and Balloon Infrared Radiation Analyses over the Antarctic

Abstract

The Nimbus II meteorological satellite permitted a direct comparison of analyses of satellites and balloonborne radiometer measurements of upward radiant emittance over Antarctica during the winter of 1966. Daily terminal altitude balloon observations of broad-band upward radiant emittance from 3?6 antarctic sounding stations were averaged over four 15-day periods coinciding with four 15-day Nimbus II averages in the 5.0?30.0 ? upward radiant emittance band. The comparison was encouraging, with the zonal averages of the balloon radiometer observations approximately 0.004 ly min?1 higher than the Nimbus II observations, undoubtedly due to the lower altitude of the balloon ascent. Since two completely independent radiometric measurements yield essentially the same results, confidence in the correctness of both increases.