Infrared radiative transfer in planetary atmospheres—I. Effects of computational and spectroscopic economies on thermal heating/cooling rates

The availability of accurate spectroscopic data and improved knowledge of continuum absorption characteristics has required a further detailed study of i.r. radiative transfer. A sophisticated radiative transfer scheme based upon the Mayer-Goody random band model is developed and the derived transmissivities for H₂O, CO₂ and O₃ are calibrated against laboratory measurements. This calibrated scheme is used to assess the effects on calculated heating/cooling rate profiles of introducing computational and spectroscopic economies.