Aircraft Measurements and Calculations of the Total Downward Flux of Solar Radiation as a Function of Altitude

Abstract

Calculations of the downward and upward fluxes of solar radiation have been programmed for computer use, so that these fluxes may he readily determined for any given set of conditions such as albedo, altitude and sun angle. These calculations, which show good agreement with other models, were graphically compared with aircraft measurements using a specially designed homograph. Analysis of this comparison suggests that aerosols above 18,000 ft were producing an average attenuation of about 80% in the downward solar flux during the flight program.