Molecular absorption of CO2 laser radiation in the terrestrial troposphere under stable anticyclonal conditions

A description is given of a method for the calculation of the attenuation of the CO₂ laser radiation (λ = 10.6 μ) by water vapor and carbon dioxide gas along horizontal and vertical paths in the atmosphere. It is shown that the attenuation due to carbon dioxide gas predominates along vertical paths above 2 km and along horizontal paths in winter. In summer the attenuation along horizontal paths is dominated by the contribution of the water vapor.