solar radiation in atmospheric chemistry

The electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. The total range of wavelengths of light emitted by the sun (99.9% in the range from $150$ to $4000 nm$ ) is filtered on entering the earth's atmosphere, largely through the absorption by oxygen, ozone, water vapour and carbon dioxide. Near sea level only light of wavelengths longer than about $290 nm$ is present. The light from $290$ – $400 nm$ is effective in inducing important photochemical processes since absorption by the important trace gases, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, aldehydes, ketones, etc., is significant in this region.

Source:

PAC, 1990, 62, 2167 (Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)) on page 2214