The absorption of solar infra‐red radiation by the lower stratosphere

Aircraft observations of the absorption of solar infra‐red radiation by the atmosphere are compared with values of integrated absorption predicted from laboratory measurements on water vapour and carbon dioxide. Aircraft observations of bands due to O 2 , CO, CH 4 and N 2 O are also considered. A scheme is derived for computing, for different latitudes and seasons, the heating‐rate due to the absorption of solar infra‐red radiation at altitudes between 10 km and 40 km. The results of such computations are presented.