Dear Tommy,
The name isotropic_longwave_radiance_in _air measured in W m-2 sr-1 is
a measure in air of the longwave (i.e. infrared) energy flux through a
unit area per unit time per unit solid angle. I think that this does
rather imply that the wavelengths are those measured in air, but the
range of wavelengths is not precisely specified. In climate models of
the earth the wavelengths of longwave radiation emitted by the
surface and atmosphere will typically be in the range of 4 - 25
micrometers. By contrast, "shortwave" would mean solar radiation in the
range approximately 0.4 - 4 micrometers. The precise range of
wavelengths included in "longwave" and "shortwave" may vary from one
model to another. If you wish to specify an exact range of wavelengths
I think you could use the standard name radiation_wavelength for a
variable giving the upper and lower bounds.
I hope this goes some way towards answering your question.
Best wishes,
Alison
------
Alison Pamment Tel: +44 1235 778065
NCAS/British Atmospheric Data Centre Fax: +44 1235 446314
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Email: J.A.Pamment at rl.ac.uk
Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0QX, U.K.
From: cf-metadata-bounces at cgd.ucar.edu
[mailto:cf-metadata-bounces at cgd.ucar.edu] On Behalf Of Greathouse,
Thomas
Sent: 10 June 2008 16:26
To: cf-metadata at cgd.ucar.edu
Subject: [CF-metadata] question concerning a CF metafile data name
Hello,
My name is Thomas Greathouse. I'm a planetary astronomer working at
the Southwest Research
Institute in San Antonio. I have a question about the definition for
spectral radiance.
The name "isotropic_longwave_radiance_in_air" implies that the spectral
wavelengths are those as
measured in air. Is this true? I'm working on a radiative code to add
to the EPIC model for
the outer planets and I usually work in cm^-1 using spectral wavelengths
that are correct for
a vacuum.
Thanks for any clarification on this and any advice.
Cheers,
Tommy
Dr. Thomas Greathouse
Southwest Research Institute
Division #15
6220 Culebra Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78228
Phone: 210-522-2809
email: tgreathouse at swri.edu
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