Infrared radiative transfer in finite cloud layers.

Abstract

Computational results of the upward and downward intensity and flux density for cubic, rectangular and plane-parallel clouds employing a wavelength of 10 micrometers are presented and physically discussed. We show that the emissivities of cubic clouds are about 20-30% lower than the values calculated from the plane-parallel program, and that optically thick cubic clouds cannot be considered as black clouds. Further, we found that cubic clouds undergo much stronger cooling at the top as compared to plane-parallel clouds.- -from Authors