A 4-week continuous record from March 21 to April 15, 1987, of solar and terrestrial downward and upward radiation flux densities (1 data set per minute) obtained during the Atlantic Ocean cruise of the R/V Polarstern (ANT V/5) along 30 ¿W between 40 ¿S and 40 ¿N is evaluated. Meridional and frequency distributions of radiation balance components are calculated for the range of climatological zones traversed. Interhemispherical differences are shown. The variation of the sea-surface albedo with solar elevation angle and weather conditions is also shown. The results are in good agreement with the parameterization reported by Coakley (1979). ¿ American Geophysical Union 1990