Abstract

The first recordings of the near infrared solar spectrum from high altitudes were made by an infrared spectrograph carried to an altitude of 102 000 feet by a skyhook plastic balloon on June 22, 1955, between 0559 and 0830 MST. The total absorption in the 1.9-micron water vapor absorption band and in the 2.0-micron carbon dioxide absorption bands was measured as a function of altitude. The amount of absorbing constituent above each level was determined. Some indication of the pressure dependence of the carbon dioxide absorption is determined. A comparison is made with other water vapor measurements in the atmosphere. A description of the infrared spectrograph, the recording equipment, and of the biaxial pointing control is given.

© 1958 Optical Society of America

Atmospheric Absorptions in the Near Infrared at High Altitudes*

David G. Murcray, James N. Brooks, Frank H. Murcray, and Walter J. Williams
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 50(2) 107-112 (1960)

Study of 1.4-μ, 1.9-μ, and 6.3-μ Water Vapor Bands at High Altitudes*

David G. Murcray, Frank H. Murcray, Walter J. Williams, and Frank E. Leslie
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 51(2) 186-195 (1961)

Variation of the Infrared Solar Spectrum between 2800 and 5100 cm⁻¹ with Altitude*

David G. Murcray, Frank H. Murcray, and Walter J. Williams
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 54(1) 23-27 (1964)

Comparison of Experimental and Theoretical Slant Path Absorptions in the Region from 1400 to 2500 cm⁻¹

David G. Murcray, Frank H. Murcray, and Walter J. Williams
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 55(10) 1239-1246 (1965)

Far Infrared Spectrograph for Use from the Prism Spectral Region to about 1-mm Wavelength

H. Yoshinaga, S. Fujita, S. Minami, A. Mitsuishi, R. A. Oetjen, and Y. Yamada
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 48(5) 315-323 (1958)