OXYGEN ABSORPTION IN THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.

Abstract : An extensive measurement program designed to measure the attenuation of electromagnetic energy in the oxygen absorption spectrum (at 5-mm wavelength) by the atmosphere is described. Measurements were made utilizing the sun as a source at six discrete altitudes ranging from sea level to 13.7 km and over a frequency range of 53.4 to 56.4 GHz. The more than 1500 independent attenuation measurements were used to calculate new values for the Van Vleck line-broadening coefficients. Zenith attenuations were computed utilizing these new coefficients over the frequency range 48 to 72 GHz and for several altitudes from 0 to 25 km. In addition, both horizontal attenuation rates and tangential attenuations through the atmosphere have been computed for several altitudes. (Author)