A first-look at radiative transfer in planetary atmospheres with a particular focus on the
Earth's atmosphere and climate. The textbook covers the basics of the radiative transfer of
sunlight treating absorption and scattering and the transfer of the thermal infrared
appropriate for local thermodynamic equilibrium absorption and emission. The examples included
show how the solutions of the radiative transfer equation are used in remote sensing to probe
the thermal structure and composition of planetary atmospheres. This motivates students by
leading them to a better understanding of and appreciation for the computer-generated numerical
results. Aimed at upper-division undergraduates and beginning graduate students in physics and
atmospheric sciences the book is designed to cover the essence of the material in a 10-week
course while the material in the optional sections will facilitate its use at the more
leisurely pace and in-depth focus of a semester course.
