Measurements of the solar flux in the Schumann-Runge continuum (1350-1750 ¿) by the Atmosphere Explorer satellites reveal a strong dependence on solar activity. Solar intensities over the rising phase of cycle 21, increase by more than a factor of two at the shorter wavelengths (1350 ¿), with a smaller change (~10%) at 1750 ¿. A significant 27 day variability is found to exist superimposed on the solar cycle variation. Because radiation in this portion of the spectum is important to the lower thermosphere in the photodissociation of 02 and the production of 0(1D), we use the unattenuated Schumann-Runge continuum dissociation frequency as a parameter to illustrate the magnitude and temporal characteristics of this variation. The values of this parameter, J∞(02)SR, range from 1.5¿10-6 s-1 for April 23, 1974, to 2.8¿10-6 s-1 for February 19, 1979. In studies of oxygen in the lower thermosphere, it is therefore necessary to use solar spectral intensities representative of the actual conditions for which the calculations are made. Both the J∞(02)SR parameter and the solar flux at various wavelengths over the 1350 to 1750 ¿ range can be expressed in terms of the F10.7 index to a reasonable approximation.