The Physical Environment

                                                       
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Energy and Radiation

Selective Absorption by the Atmosphere

The gasses that comprise our atmosphere are selective absorbers of radiation because each gas absorbs only particular wavelengths of light. Selective absorption by particular gasses and the atmosphere as a whole is shown in Figure 4.5b. The graph shows very little absorption for the atmosphere as a whole in the shortwave end of the spectrum, especially in the visible light band (the band of maximum emission for the Sun). The atmosphere absorbs far better in the longwave end of the electromagnetic spectrum which is the region of maximum emission (10µm) for the Earth.

selective absorbers

Figure 4.5 Absorption of the atmosphere and selected gasses.

 

The IR windows are found at about 8 - 14 µm. It is through this portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that infrared radiation is transferred through the atmosphere and into outer space. These windows can be "closed" by clouds which absorb infrared radiation.

 

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To understand why the atmosphere behaves as a selective absorber, see "Digging Deeper: Selective Absorption by the Atmosphere" or continue reading.

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For Citation: Ritter, Michael E. The Physical Environment: an Introduction to Physical Geography.
Date visited.  https://www.earthonlinemedia.com/ebooks/tpe_3e/title_page.html

Michael Ritter (tpeauthor@mac.com)
Last revised 6/5/12

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