The absorption of γ, γ-families and hadrons in the atmosphere - EC data

The energy spectra Σ E γ , E γ for γ -families and hadrons at the level of the Pamir ( 600 g/cm 2 ) and Tien-Shan ( 685 g/cm 2 ) mountains are compared. The ratio of event intensities permits to observe the absorption lengths for different types of events in X-ray emulsion chambers: single γ -quanta, hadrons, γ -families and super-families with halo. These values of λ a t t are much more than those determined from zenith angle distributions. Data from other EC experiments are used to decrease the errors in λ a t t . The absorption curves in the atmosphere were obtained for γ -families and γ -quanta by means of data compiled for different EC experiments at balloon, aeroplane and mountain heights. The absorption curves cannot be described as a simple exponential dependence in both cases.