Radiation balance at the sea surface in the Atlantic Ocean region between 40°S and 40°N

Abstract

A 4‐week continuous record from March 21 to April 15, 1987, of solar and terrestrial downward and upward radiation flux densities (1 data set per minute) obtained during the Atlantic Ocean cruise of the R/V Polarstern (ANT V/5) along 30°W between 40°S and 40°N is evaluated. Meridional and frequency distributions of radiation balance components are calculated for the range of climatological zones traversed. Interhemispherical differences are shown. The variation of the sea‐surface albedo with solar elevation angle and weather conditions is also shown. The results are in good agreement with the parameterization reported by Coakley (1979).

Net total and UV-B radiation at the sea surface

“…BEHR tion of the atmosphere (from atmospheric gases, mainly from water vapor, and from clouds); E = sea-surface thermal radiation, equal to the upward longwave radiation from the sea surface. As the relative Iongwave reflectance of the sea surface is of the order of 0.02 (Behr, 1990), E depends mainly on the seasurface temperature.…”

“…The sites of the instruments, their maintenance and data processing are the same as during ANT V/5, see Behr (1990) for details.…”