[Cboldt]

And that is precisely what those university gifs in #387 were telling you! That the atmosphere only absorbs 16% (in the first gif) and 19% (in the second gif) of the incoming solar radiation, NOT 95%!

Not only that, the graphics represent a whole earth energy balance, not the physics of light attenuation in air.

Light attenuation in air is variable as well. Clear vs. haze being an easily understood example. Further, attenuation will be wavelength specific.

When the question is "how much attenuation of beam energy is provided by transmission in air," a reference work that examones the solar energy balance of the planet is not directly useful.

[Boot Hill]

"When the question is "how much attenuation of beam energy is provided by transmission in air," a reference work that examones the solar energy balance of the planet is not directly useful."

Agreed, long story how we ended up down this path!

--Boot Hill

[DB]

It is mostly my fault.

I was arguing that a large percentage of sun light reaches the earth through many miles of atmosphere and that laser light can also pass through many miles of atmosphere without being substantially attenuated. That is, a 50 watt laser could easily cause serious eye damage from miles away. If the sun can pass through it, so can a laser.

The "other guy" is determined to believe that 95% of the sun's radiant energy doesn't make it to the ground. And that a 50 watt laser going a few miles would be completely absorbed by the atmosphere to render it harmless regardless of the weather conditions.