Determination of the Earth-atmosphere radiation budget from NOAA satellite data.

The Earth-atmosphere radiation budget has been calculated using observations obtained by the two-channel scanning radiometer aboard the NOAA operational satellites. The two channels observed reflected radiation in the visible range (0.5 to 0.7 µm) and emitted longwave radiation in the atmospheric window (10.5 to 12.5 µm). Calculations of the Earth- atmosphere radiation balance have been made since June 1974 and are continuing. This report describes the methods and approximations used in estimating the radiation budget from the operational data. Results are presented for the annual period June 1974 through May 1975. Emphasis has been placed on the broad spatial and temporally averaged results, such as mean monthly zonal and global averages and annual maps of the radiation balance parameters, i.e., albedo, outgoing longwave radiation, absorbed radiation, and net radiation. The global albedo was calculated as 32.3% and the outgoing longwave radiation as 248 W*m-2.