Tools for atmospheric radiative transfer: Streamer and FluxNet

Two tools for the solution of radiative transfer problems are presented. Streamer is a flexible medium spectral resolution radiative transfer model based on the plane-parallel theory of radiative transfer. Capable of computing either fluxes or radiances, it is suitable for studying radiative processes at the surface or within the atmosphere and for the development of remote-sensing algorithms. FluxNet is a fast neural network-based implementation of Streamer for computing surface fluxes. It allows for a sophisticated treatment of radiative processes in the analysis of large data sets and potential integration into geophysical models where computational efficiency is an issue. Documentation and tools for the development of alternative versions of FluxNet are available. Collectively, Streamer and FluxNet solve a wide variety of problems related to radiative transfer: Streamer provides the detail and sophistication needed to perform basic research on most aspects of complex radiative processes, whereas the efficiency and simplicity of FluxNet make it ideal for operational use. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.