Temperature dependence of the water vapor continuum absorption in the 3-5 μm spectral region

Asymptotic line wing theory allows one to construct the line shape describing the frequency and temperature dependence of the self-broadened H2O continuum in the 3-5 μm spectral region obtained experimentally by CAVIAR and NIST. The H2O transmission functions are adequately described as well, using this line shape up to temperatures of ∼675 K and pressures of ∼10 atm.

► We consider water vapor continuum absorption as a monomer line wing absorption. ► Asymptotic line wing theory includes classical and quantum interaction potentials. ► Potential parameters of line wing shape are found from comparison with experiment. ► Line wing shape obtained describes temperature dependence of water continuum. ► The same procedure describes temperature dependence in 8-12 and 3-5 μm windows.