Radiation flux from the upper and lower hemispheres in the visible spectral range

Using the results from a total of 67 ascents mean components of the shortwave radiation budget of the atmospheric layer between the ocean surface and the top of the ascent are discussed. The influence of clouds on the radiation balance is shown by dividing the ascents in classes of cloudiness and cloud altitude.

Thereby the albedo of the ocean surface is increasing with increasing amount of cloudiness. Similar the albedo of the troposphere increases involving an increased heating rate of the atmospheric layer.