Publisher's Synopsis
This book presents an overview and critical analysis of spectroscopy of the earth's atmosphere and of molecules occurring in the interstellar medium. The field of atmospheric spectroscopy has been comprehensively treated fromt eh microwave to the far and mid-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Theoretical and computations procedures have been outlined for determining the critical parameters needed by spectroscopists, aeronomers, modellers and other scientists engaged in the study of the terrestrial atmosphere; intesities and collision broadening parameters obtained from the infrared spectra have been updated. Another area of considerable interest is the detection and determination of the abundance of organic and inorganic molecules, radicals and ions in interstellar space, which combines in this book to provide a comprehensive review of radioastronomy with an emphasis on the molecular composition of interstellar clouds.