Consider the absorption of 240 nm sunlight by O 2 . The O 2 cross section at thi

Question

Consider the absorption of 240 nm sunlight by O2. The O2 cross section at this wavelength is 10-24 cm2 molecule-1. Assuming that FTOA photons of this wavelengthe enter the top of the atmosphere, derive the equation for the attenuation of this light as a result of absorption of these photons as a function of altitude, neglecting scattering, for a solar zenith angle of 0 degrees. You may assume nair(0) = 2.6 x 1019 molecules cm-3 and the atmosphere scale height H = 7.4 km. As the sun moves lower in the sky, how does the absorption change?

Explanation / Answer

n (z) =nair(0) exp[-z/h]

n(z)=2.6*109 exp [-0/7.4km]

n(z) = 2.64*109 molecules cm-3

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