The role of the water vapor continuum absorption in near ground long-wave radiation processes of the Lower Volga region

Analytical formulas for the estimation of the sensitivity of downward long-wave radiative fluxes to variations in the total water vapor content in the atmospheric vertical column in the absorption bands and atmospheric transparency windows are derived. The regression dependence of the CO 2 radiative forcing on the total water vapor content is calculated for the Lower Volga region. The role of the H 2 O continuum absorption is studied, and the CO 2 radiative forcing is shown to strongly depend on the continuum magnitude. The atmospheric conditions are determined, under which the contribution of the H 2 O continuum due to the interaction of water vapor with air molecules to the downward radiative fluxes is maximal.