http://hdl.handle.net/2122/90 2013-05-21T14:44:58Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8022 Title: Effect of surface albedo, water vapour, and atmospheric aerosols on the cloud-free shortwave radiative budget in the Arctic Authors: Di Biagio, C.; ENEA, Laboratory for Earth Observations and Analyses, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy; Di Sarra, A.; ENEA, Laboratory for Earth Observations and Analyses, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy; Eriksen, P.; DMI, Danish Meteorological Institute, Danish Climate Centre, Lyngbyvej 100, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Ascanius, S. E.; DMI, Danish Meteorological Institute, Qaanaaq, Greenland; Muscari, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Holben, B.; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA Abstract: This study is based on ground-based measurements of downward surface shortwave irradiance (SW), columnar water vapour (wv), and aerosol optical depth (s) obtained at Thule Air Base (Greenland) in 2007–2010, together with MODIS observations of the surface shortwave albedo (A). Radiative transfer model calculations are used in combination with measurements to separate the radiative effect of A (∆SWA), wv (DSWwv), and aerosols (∆SWs) in modulating SW in cloud-free conditions. The shortwave radiation at the surface is mainly affected by water vapour absorption, which produces a reduction of SW as low as -100 Wm-2 (-18%). The seasonal change of A produces an increase of SW by up to +25 Wm-2 (+4.5%). The annual mean radiative effect is estimated to be -(21–22) Wm-2 for wv, and +(2–3) Wm-2 for A. An increase by +0.065 cm in the annual mean wv, to which corresponds an absolute increase in ∆SWwv by 0.93 Wm-2 (4.3%), has been observed to occur between 2007 and 2010. In the same period, the annual mean A has decreased by -0.027, with a corresponding decrease in ∆SWA by 0.41 Wm-2 (-14.9%). Atmospheric aerosols produce a reduction of SW as low as -32 Wm-2 (-6.7%). The instantaneous aerosol radiative forcing (RFs) reaches values of -28 Wm-2 and shows a strong dependency on surface albedo. The derived radiative forcing efficiency (FEs) for solar zenith angles between 55 and 70 is estimated to be (-120.6 ± 4.3) for 0.1<A<0.2, and (-41.2 ± 1.6) Wm-2 for 0.5<A<0.6. 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7675 Title: Radiation measurements as tool for environmental and geophysics studies on volcano-tectonic areas Authors: Morelli, D.; Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania; Immé, G.; Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania; Altamore, I.; Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania; Aranzulla, M.; Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania; Cammisa, S.; Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania; Catalano, R.; Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania; Giammanco, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia; La Delfa, S.; Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Università di Catania; Mangano, G.; Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania; Neri, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia; Patané, G.; Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Università di Catania; Rosselli Tazzer, A.; Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Catania Abstract: In the last years there has been an increasing concern about natural- radioactivity measurements both from the point of view of the environmental survey, especially for the human health protection, and of the geophysical-events investiga- tion in volcanic areas and tectonic fault zones. We report on our activity in both these fields, in particular on the measurements of indoor radon concentration in a long-term passive monitoring in dwellings of the eastern region of Sicily. Because this region is characterized by high seismicity, besides the indoor radioactivity sur- vey, in-soil radon measurements in the region (both volcanic and tectonic area) can provide a better insight and a valuable database for the study related to radon anomalies. A synthesis is reported of the results that we obtained, in the last years, in the volcanic and tectonic area of oriental Sicily both from indoor monitoring and from geophysical-events investigation. 2010-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7549 Title: Field determination of biomass burning emission ratios and factors via open-path FTIR spectroscopy and fire radiative power assessment: headfire, backfire and residual smouldering combustion in African savannahs Authors: Wooster, M. J.; King's College London, Environmental Monitoring and Modelling Research Group, Department of Geography, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK; NERC National Centre for Earth Observation, UK; Freeborn, P. H.; King's College London, Environmental Monitoring and Modelling Research Group, Department of Geography, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK; Archibald, S.; Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Oppenheimer, C.; Le Studium, Institute for Advanced Studies, Orléans and Tours, France; 5Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans, Orléans 45071, France; 6Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EN, UK; Roberts, G. J.; King's College London, Environmental Monitoring and Modelling Research Group, Department of Geography, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK; NERC National Centre for Earth Observation, UK; Smith, T. E. L.; King's College London, Environmental Monitoring and Modelling Research Group, Department of Geography, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK; Govender, N.; Scientific Services, Kruger National Park, Private Bag X402, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa; Burton, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Palumbo, I.; DG Joint Research Centre, Global Environment Monitoring Unit, Ispra, Italy Abstract: Biomass burning emissions factors are vital to quantifying trace gas release from vegetation fires. Here we evaluate emissions factors for a series of savannah fires in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa using ground-based open path Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and an IR source separated by 150–250 m distance. Molecular abundances along the extended open path are retrieved using a spectral forward model coupled to a non-linear least squares fitting approach. We demonstrate derivation of trace gas column amounts for horizontal paths transecting the width of the advected plume, and find for example that CO mixing ratio changes of ~0.01 μmol mol−1 [10 ppbv] can be detected across the relatively long optical paths used here. Though FTIR spectroscopy can detect dozens of different chemical species present in vegetation fire smoke, we focus our analysis on five key combustion products released preferentially during the pyrolysis (CH2O), flaming (CO2) and smoldering (CO, CH4, NH3) processes. We demonstrate that well constrained emissions ratios for these gases to both CO2 and CO can be derived for the backfire, headfire and residual smouldering combustion (RSC) stages of these savannah fires, from which stage-specific emission factors can then be calculated. Headfires and backfires often show similar emission ratios and emission factors, but those of the RSC stage can differ substantially. The timing of each fire stage was identified via airborne optical and thermal IR imagery and ground-observer reports, with the airborne IR imagery also used to derive estimates of fire radiative energy (FRE), allowing the relative amount of fuel burned in each stage to be calculated and "fire averaged" emission ratios and emission factors to be determined. These "fire averaged" metrics are dominated by the headfire contribution, since the FRE data indicate that the vast majority of the fuel is burned in this stage. Our fire averaged emission ratios and factors for CO2 and CH4 agree well with those from prior studies conducted in the same area using e.g. airborne plume sampling. We also concur with past suggestions that emission factors for formaldehyde in this environment appear substantially underestimated in widely used databases, but see no evidence to support suggestions by Sinha et al. (2003) of a major overestimation in the emission factor of ammonia in works such as Andreae and Merlet (2001) and Akagi et al. (2011). We also measure somewhat higher CO and NH3 emission ratios and factors than are usually reported for this environment, which is interpreted to result from the OP-FTIR ground-based technique sampling a greater proportion of smoke from smouldering processes than is generally the case with methods such as airborne sampling. Finally, our results suggest that the contribution of burning animal (elephant) dung can be a significant factor in the emissions characteristics of certain KNP fires, and that the ability of remotely sensed fire temperatures to provide information useful in tailoring modified combustion efficiency (MCE) and emissions factor estimates maybe rather limited, at least until the generally available precision of such temperature estimates can be substantially improved. One limitation of the OP-FTIR method is its ability to sample only near-ground level smoke, which may limit application at more intense fires where the majority of smoke is released into a vertically rising convection column. Nevertheless, even in such cases the method potentially enables a much better assessment of the emissions contribution of the RSC stage than is typically conducted currently. 2011-11-21T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7413 Title: Radiative measurements at Thule, Greenland: factors affecting the cloud-free shortwave and longwave radiative budget in the Arctic Authors: Di Biagio, C.; ENEA/UTMEA-TER, S. Maria di Galeria, Italy; Bertagnolio, P. P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; di Sarra, A. G.; ENEA/UTMEA-TER, S. Maria di Galeria, Italy; Eriksen, P.; Danish Meteorological Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark; Ascanius, S. E.; Danish Meteorological Institute, Qanaaq, Greenland; Muscari, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Milano-Pavia, Milano, Italia Abstract: The Arctic region plays a central role in the global climate system. Modifications in the Arctic radiative budget may strongly influence large scale atmospheric and oceanic circulation. The evaluation of the surface energy balance sensitivity to variations in several parameters, such as surface temperature, water vapour content, surface albedo, and atmospheric aerosols, is one of the main issues in assessing how the Arctic will respond to future climate changes. The NDACC station at Thule Air Base (76.5°N, 68.8°W) is equipped with a variety of instruments for the measurement of the radiative fluxes at the surface, aerosol optical properties, water vapour atmospheric content, and meteorological parameters. A Yankee Environmental System Total Solar Pyranometer (YES-TSP) and an Eppley pyrgeometer (PIR) are installed at Thule for the measurement of the global shortwave and longwave downward irradiances at the surface. The TSP was installed in 2002, while the PIR in 2009. A Cimel Sunphotometer measures aerosol optical properties and water vapour columnar content; the Cimel is part of the Aerosol Robotic Network and was installed in 2007. In winter, the water vapour columnar content is also measured at Thule with a millimeter-wave spectrometer (GBMS) operating in the 230-280 GHz range. GBMS measurements have been carried out during several winters between 2002 and 2011. A meteorological station, which measures surface temperature and pressure, relative humidity, wind speed and direction is also continuously operational at Thule. Satellite observations of the surface shortwave albedo obtained from MODIS have been used together with ground-based measurements. Four years (2007 to 2010) of surface shortwave irradiance at the surface, aerosol optical properties, and water vapour have been combined with satellite observations of the surface albedo. Radiative transfer model calculations are used to reproduce the observed shortwave fluxes and to separate the effects of the different parameters in modulating the cloud-free downward shortwave radiation at the ground. Water vapour is the main factor affecting the cloud-free shortwave irradiance at the surface. Its column value varies between 0.1 and 1.4 cm during the period spring to early autumn. Water vapour produces a reduction of the surface shortwave flux by -(212%). The surface albedo varies between 0.05 and 0.66 in the period March to September, with values larger than 0.5 in spring and smaller than 0.1 in summer. In spring the surface albedo induces an increase by +(2-4.5%) in the downward shortwave radiation. The aerosol optical depth at 500 nm is generally lower than 0.2; atmospheric aerosols produce a reduction in the shortwave radiation down to -5%. On annual base, the mean effects of water vapour and surface albedo are estimated to be –(10-11) Wm-2 and +(2-3) Wm-2, respectively. The temperature and humidity profiles in the troposphere have the strongest influence on the cloud-free downwelling longwave irradiance. In wintertime, in absence of solar radiation, the longwave fluxes dominate the surface radiation budget. GBMS water vapour measurements from winters 2009 to 2011 have been used, together with surface humidity and temperature, to investigate the relative influence of these factors in affecting the downwelling longwave irradiance. 2011-11-06T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7262 Title: Surface latent heat flux anomalies before the MS 7.1 New Zealand earthquake 2010 Authors: Qin, K.; College of Geosciences and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; Wu, L.; Key Laboratory of Environment Change and Natural Disaster (Ministry of Education), Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; De Santis, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Wang, H.; College of Geosciences and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China Abstract: By analyzing surface latent heat flux (SLHF) data from the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis Project for the period three months before and after the Sept. 3, 2010 MS 7.1 New Zealand earthquake, an isolated SLHF positive anomaly on Aug. 1, 2010 was found with a high value of about 160 W/m2 to the northeast of the epicenter. Historical data, background pixels, and wavelet transforms of time series were comprehensively analyzed to study the spatiotemporal features of the SLHF anomaly. After removing the influences of wind speed and cloud cover, the key factor leading to local SLHF anomalies is the surface temperature increment. Combined with GPS displacement observations and tectonic settings, we determined that the physical mechanism of the SLHF anomaly could possibly be attributed to hot underground materials related to high-temperature and high-pressure upwelling from the deep crust and mantle along the nearby subduction zone, thereby explaining the local temperature increment to the northeast of the epicenter, as well as in the center of the North Island and the southwest of the South Island. Furthermore, it changed the specific humidity between the ground and surface air, causing the local SLHF increment. 2011-10-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/6581 Title: Insights into rapid explosive volcanic processes from ground- and space-based intraday SO2 flux measurements Authors: Merucci, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione CNT, Roma, Italia; Burton, M. R.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Pisa, Pisa, Italia; Corradini, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione CNT, Roma, Italia; Salerno, G. G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Catania, Catania, Italia Abstract: Observations of volcanic degassing yield insights into the sub-surface magmatic processes which control volcanic activity during both quiescent and eruptive phases. By combining information on volcanic gas flux with constraints on original dissolved volatile contents the volume of degassing magma can be determined. Comparisons between the volume of degassing magma, erupted volume, and ground deformation allow mass balance calculations to be performed, providing insight into the shallow volcanic plumbing system dynamics. For these reasons there is great interest in improving the quality and frequency of volcanic gas flux measurements. Ultraviolet and infrared remote sensing techniques allow determination of SO2 column amounts within volcanic plumes. By calculating SO2 column amounts in a profile orthogonal to the plume-wind direction and multiplying the integrated SO2 cross section by the wind speed the SO2 emission rate can be retrieved. There are currently three main approaches for determining volcanic SO2 fluxes; (i) ground-based mini-DOAS systems, (ii) ground-based SO2 imaging cameras, and (iii) satellite-based infrared and ultraviolet imaging. Here we examine SO2 fluxes obtained by the Flux Automatic Measurement (FLAME) network of scanning mini-DOAS instruments installed at Mt. Etna and by the MODIS instrument aboard the NASA EOS satellite AQUA during the 2006 eruption of Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy. Mt. Etna produced a highly variable eruptive activity from the South-East crater, characterised by explosive sequences, which could be either ash-rich or ash-poor, lava effusion, partial flank collapse and periods of quiescence. We examined intraday variations in SO2 flux measured with FLAME and MODIS during both ash-rich and ash-poor explosive phases. In general, good agreement was found between the datasets. Of particular interest was the successful recalculation and validation of temporal variations in SO2 flux recorded in a single image from MODIS. By examining the temporal evolution of gas emissions our results provide insight in the eruption mechanism driving the explosive activity. 2010-12-06T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/6422 Title: Climate forcings and climate sensitivities diagnosed from atmospheric global circulation models Authors: Anderson, B. T.; Department of Geography and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA; Knight, J. R.; Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, UK; Ringer, M. A.; Met Office Hadley Centre, Exeter, UK; Deser, C.; National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA; Phillips, A. S.; National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA; Yoon, J.; Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites, Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Cherchi, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia Abstract: Understanding the historical and future response of the global climate system to anthropogenic emissions of radiatively active atmospheric constituents has become a timely and compelling concern. At present, however, there are uncertainties in: the total radiative forcing associated with changes in the chemical composition of the atmosphere; the effective forcing applied to the climate system resulting from a (temporary) reduction via ocean-heat uptake; and the strength of the climate feedbacks that subsequently modify this forcing. Here a set of analyses derived from atmospheric general circulation model simulations are used to estimate the effective and total radiative forcing of the observed climate system due to anthropogenic emissions over the last 50 years of the twentieth century. They are also used to estimate the sensitivity of the observed climate system to these emissions, as well as the expected change in global surface temperatures once the climate system returns to radiative equilibrium. Results indicate that estimates of the effective radiative forcing and total radiative forcing associated with historical anthropogenic emissions differ across models. In addition estimates of the historical sensitivity of the climate to these emissions differ across models. However, results suggest that the variations in climate sensitivity and total climate forcing are not independent, and that the two vary inversely with respect to one another. As such, expected equilibrium temperature changes, which are given by the product of the total radiative forcing and the climate sensitivity, are relatively constant between models, particularly in comparison to results in which the total radiative forcing is assumed constant. Implications of these results for projected future climate forcings and subsequent responses are also discussed. 2010-11-30T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/6130 Title: HYDROTHERMAL METHANE FLUXES FROM THE SOIL AT SOUSAKI (GREECE) Authors: D'Alessandro, W.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Brusca, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Kyriakopoulos, K.; University of Athens, Dept. Geology and Geoenvironment, Greece; Martelli, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Michas, G.; University of Athens, Dept. Geology and Geoenvironment, Greecey; Papadakis, G.; University of Athens, Dept. Geology and Geoenvironment, Greece; Salerno, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia Editors: Christofolides, G.; School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; Kantiranis, N.; School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; Kostopoulos, D.S.; School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; Chatzipetros, A.A.; School of Geology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece Abstract: Methane soil flux measurements have been made in 38 sites at the geothermal system of Sousaki (Greece) with the closed chamber method. Fluxes range from –47.6 to 29,150 mg m-2 d-1 and the diffuse CH4 output of the system has been estimated in 19 t/a. Contemporaneous CO2 flux measurements showed a fair positive correlation between CO2 and CH4 fluxes but the flux ratio evidenced methanotrophic activity within the soil. Laboratory CH4 consumption experiments confirmed the presence of methanotrophic microorganisms in soil samples collected at Sousaki. These results further confirm recent studies on other geothermal systems that revealed the existence of thermophilic and acidophilic bacteria exerting methanotrophic activity also in hot and acid soils thereby reducing methane emissions to the atmosphere. 2010-09-22T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/4762 Title: Aerosol extinction coefficient profile retrieval procedure for satellite measurements in multiple scattering atmosphere Authors: Corradini, S.; Università degli Studi di Genova Abstract: The aim of this work is to develop a multiple scattering inversion procedure for the aerosol extinction coefficient profile retrieval and error assessment for nadir and multi-angle passive remote sensing instruments. The procedure will be applied for the tropospheric aerosol extinction coefficient profile retrieval from SCIAMACHY nadir simulated measurements using atmospheric windows and oxygen A-band wavelengths. Also the contemporary use of atmospheric windows and oxygen A-band wavelengths will be discussed. SCIAMACHY simulated measurement has been used because, due to calibration real data procedure problems, until now SCIAMACHY data are not available. 2004-02-29T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/3680 Title: Spectrally resolved observations of atmospheric emitted radiance in the H2O rotation band Authors: Bhawar, R.; Dipartimento di Ingegeneria e Fisica dell’Ambiente, Universita` della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; Bianchini, G.; Istituto di Fisica Applicata Nello Carrara, CNR, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Bozzo, A.; Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita` di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Cacciani, M.; Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy; Calvello, M. R.; Dipartimento di Ingegeneria e Fisica dell’Ambiente, Universita` della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; Carlotti, M.; Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica ed Inorganica, Universita` di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Castagnoli, F.; Istituto di Fisica Applicata Nello Carrara, CNR, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Cuomo, V.; Istituto di Metodologie per l’Analisi Ambientale, CNR, Tito Scalo, Italy; Di Girolamo, P.; Dipartimento di Ingegeneria e Fisica dell’Ambiente, Universita` della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; Di Iorio, T.; Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy; Di Liberto, L.; Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy; di Sarra, A.; Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy; Esposito, F.; Dipartimento di Ingegeneria e Fisica dell’Ambiente, Universita` della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; Fiocco, G.; Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy; Fuà, D.; Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy; Grieco, G.; Dipartimento di Ingegeneria e Fisica dell’Ambiente, Universita` della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; Maestri, T.; Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita` di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Masiello, G.; Dipartimento di Ingegeneria e Fisica dell’Ambiente, Universita` della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; Muscari, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Palchetti, L.; Istituto di Fisica Applicata Nello Carrara, CNR, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Papandrea, E.; Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica ed Inorganica, Universita` di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Pavese, G.; Istituto di Metodologie per l’Analisi Ambientale, CNR, Tito Scalo, Italy; Restieri, R.; Dipartimento di Ingegeneria e Fisica dell’Ambiente, Universita` della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; Rizzi, R.; Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita` di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Romano, F.; Istituto di Metodologie per l’Analisi Ambientale, CNR, Tito Scalo, Italy; Serio, C.; Dipartimento di Ingegeneria e Fisica dell’Ambiente, Universita` della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; Summa, D.; Dipartimento di Ingegeneria e Fisica dell’Ambiente, Universita` della Basilicata, Potenza, Italy; Todini, G.; Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita` di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Tosi, E.; Dipartimento di Fisica, Universita` di Bologna, Bologna, Italy Abstract: This paper presents the project Earth Cooling by Water Vapor Radiation, an observational programme, which aims at developing a database of spectrally resolved far infrared observations, in atmospheric dry conditions, in order to validate radiative transfer models and test the quality of water vapor continuum and line parameters. The project provides the very first set of far-infrared spectral downwelling radiance measurements, in dry atmospheric conditions, which are complemented with Raman Lidar-derived temperature and water vapor profiles. 2008-01-31T23:00:00Z