Definition Weglänge des Sonnenlichts durch die Atmosphäre als Vielfaches des kürzesten Weges AM 1 bei senkrechtem Sonnenstand am Äquator Reference Susanne Rexroth: Gestalten mit Solarzellen - Photovoltaik in der Gebäudehülle. C.F. Müller: Heidelberg, 2002, S.233
Comment englisch: Air mass, kurz AM Außerhalb der Erdatmosphäre gilt AM 0, in unseren Breiten beschreibt AM 1,5 (das entspricht 48° geografischer Breite) die durchschnittliche Dicke der Atmosphäre. Der AM-Wert repräsentiert eine bestimmte spektrale Zusammensetzung des Sonnenlichts.
Definition optical path length through Earth's atmosphere for light from a celestial source Reference "Based on Wikipedia entry for ""Airmass"": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airmass [15.1.2019]"
Comment As it passes through the atmosphere, light is attenuated by scattering and absorption; the more atmosphere through which it passes, the greater the attenuation. Consequently, celestial bodies at the horizon appear less bright than when at the zenith. The attenuation, known as atmospheric extinction, is described quantitatively by the Beer-Lambert-Bouguer law. 'Air mass' normally indicates relative air mass, the path length relative to that at the zenith, so by definition the air mass at the zenith is 1. Air mass increases as the angle between the source and the zenith increases, reaching a value of approximately 38 at the horizon. Tables of air mass have been published by numerous authors, including Bemporad (1904), Allen (1976), and Kasten and Young (1989).
Definition the mass of air which moves relative to the airstream at the same velocity as a parachute canopy Reference Multilingual Aeronautical Dictionary(AGARD,1980)
Definition 1.Air movements within the Earth's atmospheric circulation; also called planetary winds. Two main components are recognized: first, the latitudinal meridional component due to the Coriolis force (a deflecting motion or force discussed by G.G. de Coriolis in 1835. The rotation of the Earth causes a body moving across its surface to be deflected to the right in the N hemisphere and to the left in the S hemisphere); and secondly, the longitudinal component and the vertical movement, resulting largely from varying pressure distributions due to differential heating and cooling of the Earth's surface. Reference 1.WHIT;