K-Distribution Method for Calculating the Effect of Ozone on the Radiation Balance under Conditions of Thermodynamic Equilibrium Disturbance in the Range of 500–1150 cm–1

A method for calculating the radiative properties of ozone under vibrational–rotational nonequilibrium conditions is proposed. The method is based on the classical narrowband K-distribution model, which includes corrections for nonequilibrium. These corrections include vibrational and rotational distribution functions, as well as averaged Boltzmann functions over vibrational and rotational temperatures. To verify the method, a series of nonequilibrium calculations is performed and compared with the exact line-by-line (LBL) method in the spectral range of 500 to 1150 cm–1. The comparison, conducted over a wide range of pressures and translational, rotational, and vibrational temperatures, shows good agreement (within 5%). Thermal nonequilibrium is observed at altitudes of ~60 km and can lead to significant changes in the radiative properties of atmospheric ozone (by a factor of 2–3 for radiation intensity).