A paramaterization for the absorption due to the near infrared bands of CO₂

A broad band absorption parameterization for the near-infrared bands of CO₂ is described. This parameterization is in excellent agreement with more detailed line-by-line calculations for a large range of pressures, temperatures and amounts of CO₂. The role of near IR absorption due to CO₂ is investigated for the earth’s atmosphere. It is shown that the presence of these near-lR absorption bands contributes to a heating of nearly 0.2 K/day in the upper stratosphere and 0.05 K/day in the lower stratosphere. Although the magnitude of heating in the lower stratosphere is small, it contributes more heating than ozone near the tropical tropopause region.