2008 GLOS Mooring deployment
Longwave Radiation
Longwave radiation (don't be put off by the word "radiation") is energy emitted by the atmosphere in the infrared band, between about 3 and 30 um. This value tends to be high when there is lots of moisture in the atmosphere, i.e. it's very humid or there is cloud cover. THis is why going outside on a clear night often feels cooler than going out on a cloud-covered night; the lack of moisture in the atmosphere allow the earth's heat to escape and not be re-radiated back to earth. This is also the term that concerns scientists right now, as the increased CO2 load of the atmosphere is leading to a larger re-emitted portion of longwave radiation from the atmosphere.
