Infrared and visible wavelength absorption by water vapour
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Water vapour is the most important species in our atmosphere for both absorbing incoming sunlight and for absorbing heat leaving the earth's surface (the so-called greenhouse effect). Thus a thorough and reliable understanding of how water absorbs radiation at all wavelengths is absolutely crucial to understanding, modelling and making predictions about atmospheric processes. For example reliable predictions of water absorptions are essential for models of climate change, for studies of the concentration of trace species in the atmosphere using satellites and for modelling communications through the atmosphere. Unfortunately the way water absorbs light is (uniquely?) complicated and, despite huge scientific effort, remains insufficiently well determined for many atmospheric purposes. The proposers group have developed theoretical procedure based on the rigorous application of quantum mechanics which have allowed a significant advance in the understanding and interpretation of water absorptions. These procedures are not yet accurate enough to give a complete solution of the problem using computers. However when combined with modern laboratory experiments it should be possible to create a definitive database of water absorptions. The present proposal is ensure the reliable provision of data on the absorption of light by water vapour over a wide range of wavelengths, concentrating especially on the wavelengths where solar radiation is the largest. This will be achieved by theoretical work performed at UCL and by coordinating the leading laboratories worldwide who work on water absorptions using laboratory measurements. Extensive testing of the resulting data against laboratory and atmospheric measurements will be performed to ensure that the data is reliable.
Organisations
Publications
Veihelmann B
(2007)
Line parameter validation using ground-based solar occultation measurements: Water vapor-A case study
in Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer
Voronin B
(2007)
HDO absorption spectrum above 11500cm-1: Assignment and dynamics
in Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy
Voronin B
(2010)
A high accuracy computed line list for the HDO molecule A line list for HDO
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Yurchenko SN
(2008)
Potential energy surface of HDO up to 25,000 cm-1.
in The Journal of chemical physics
Description | Understanding accurately how water vapour absorbs and emits light |
Exploitation Route | data included in the HITRAN database |
Sectors | Environment |
Title | Databases of molecular line lists |
Description | Our molecular line lists have been collected as data. These are distributed directly from our own website and via other data centres (Strasbourg, BADC) and via other databases: HITRAN, GEISA, KIDA, BASECOL, HITEMP etc |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | HITRAN has 200,000 users. Our data is now central to this. Other data is having an important influence in other key areas eg Exoplanet research. |
Description | schools talks |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | I have regularly been invited back to schools who wish to increase A-level participation in STEM subjects have regularly been invited back to schools who wish to increase A-level participation in STEM subjects |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | Pre-2006,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |