Radiative transfer in stratified atmospheres: development and verification of a unified model.

A reliable and efficient discrete method is verified for multiple scattering, radiative-transfer calculations in vertically inhomogeneous, non-isothermal atmospheres in local thermodynamic equilibrium. The linear-in-optical-depth approximation to the Planck function is used to obtain accurate solutions for thermal radiation. The authors show that this approximation significantly improves computing efficiency while still maintaining adequate accuracy. Using this multiple-scattering scheme, they have constructed and validated a radiation model for stratified atmospheres, taking into account molecular (Rayleigh) scattering and absorption/emission. To validate the model, the authors present computed fluxes and heating/cooling rate profiles for the five McClatchey atmospheres. The results are compared with other models having different spectral resolution (Δs) and gaseous scattering and absorption/emission structure.