Abstract
The random Elsasser band model is used to compute the transmission of the atmospheres of Earth and Mars for the 2-μ bands of carbon dioxide. This band model is shown to give good agreement with measurements of spectral transmission for homogeneous paths of CO 2 and also for nonhomogeneous paths through the Earth's atmosphere when the Curtis-Godson approximation is used. The 2-μ bands of CO 2 are strong in the atmospheres of both Earth and Mars and, at a given temperature, their absorption is a function only of the product mp. Comparison of calculated values for transmission of sunlight through both atmospheres indicates that mp ♂ = 500 ± 100 meter-atm mbar where m is the amount of CO 2 in one air mass and p♂ is the “effective” surface pressure. For m♂ = 60 to 85 meter-atm, the above value of mp♂ leads to p s♂ = 7.1 ± 2.2 mbar for the surface pressure of the Martian atmosphere.
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