The Earth Radiation Budget

Abstract

Satellite observations of the radiation entering and leaving the Earth-atmosphere system and their use for studies of the Earth’s climate are discussed in this chapter. Prior to the satellite era, the Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) was estimated by using radiative transfer calculations. Because of their importance to studies of climate, satellite measurements of the radiation budget were initiated early in the space observation program. The first successful measurements from space of the planetary radiation budget were made in 1959 from Explorer-7 (House, 1984). These measurements were limited in duration and were analyzed primarily with regard to synoptic weather patterns (Weinstein and Suomi, 1961). Radiation budget measurements (albedo and Outgoing Longwave Radiation [OLR]) continued with TIROS 2, 4, and 7. (Bandeen et al., 1961; Winston and Rao, 1962, 1963; Winston, 1967). These observations extended over longer periods, allowing for preliminary studies of seasonal and year to year variations.