Isotopes in Induced Radioactivity (original) (raw)

The absorption of solar energy by the Earth's atmosphere has been examined from 3p to 21' by means of a spectroheliometer with intermediate resolving power. Very minute atmospheric windows on the long wave side of 13.5p admit a negligible amount of energy. The principal infrared cutoff of the terrestrial atmosphere occurs at this point and is due to the lowest frequency fundamental (s2) of the carbon dioxide molecule. To the long wave side of v2(CO2) the cutoff is occasioned principally by the pure rotation spectrum of the water molecule. Numerous absorption bands due to CO2, 03 and H20 were observed throughout the spectral limits recorded above. The spectrum is now being analyzed with high resolving power. Complete details of the investigation will be reported in a forthcoming issue of this journal.