Observations of the radiation climate near Point Barrow, Alaska, were conducted during a five-year period between 1962 and 1966. Data on incoming shortwave radiation, albedo, incoming longwave radiation, and net total radiation are summarized in the form of monthly and annual averages. Due to the prevalence of summer clouds, incident shortwave radiation (Q) reaches a peak in early June with maximum flux values in excess of 50 mW cm−3. Increasing cloud cover throughout the snow-free period results in a distribution for Q which is asymmetric about the summer solstice. Atmospheric transmissivity averages vary between 34% in late summer and 69% in late winter, the annual average being 51%. The albedo regime exhibits four distinctly different parts: 1) a winter stationary period, 2) a spring transitional period, 3) a summer stationary period, and 4) an autumn transitional period. Incoming longwave radiation (E) averages 24 mW cm−2 for the year with a seasonal variation of around 7 mW cm−2 year−1. On a... Abstract Observations of the radiation climate near Point Barrow, Alaska, were conducted during a five-year period between 1962 and 1966. Data on incoming shortwave radiation, albedo, incoming longwave radiation, and net total radiation are summarized in the form of monthly and annual averages. Due to the prevalence of summer clouds, incident shortwave radiation (Q) reaches a peak in early June with maximum flux values in excess of 50 mW cm−3. Increasing cloud cover throughout the snow-free period results in a distribution for Q which is asymmetric about the summer solstice. Atmospheric transmissivity averages vary between 34% in late summer and 69% in late winter, the annual average being 51%. The albedo regime exhibits four distinctly different parts: 1) a winter stationary period, 2) a spring transitional period, 3) a summer stationary period, and 4) an autumn transitional period. Incoming longwave radiation (E) averages 24 mW cm−2 for the year with a seasonal variation of around 7 mW cm−2 year−1. On a...