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SOLUTIONS TO EXERCISE 17
This atmospheric feature - a storm, perhaps - has a temperature of 200 K, so the continuum of the spectrum should rise to a peak at a wavelength described by Wien's law: Lambda = 0.0029 m / 200 K = 0.0000145 m = 14500 nm. The continuum will then slope downward toward longer wavelengths. The spectrum will contain absorption lines produced by ammonia and methane, since they exist as high-density, low-energy gas. The more of an absorbing gas there is, the stronger the absorption line will tend to be; so this spectrum should contain relatively deep absorption lines at 12500 and 16000 nm, and relatively shallow absorption lines at 14000 and 21000 nm. Finally, the spectrum will also contain emission lines produced by water vapor and carbon dioxide, since they exist as low-density, high-energy gas. The more of an emitting gas there is, the stronger the emission line will tend to be; so this spectrum should contain relatively "tall" emission lines at 15000 and 28000 nm, and relatively "short" emission lines at 17000, 18500, and 24500 nm. |