On-orbit solar calibrations using the TRMM clouds and the Earth's radiant energy system (CERES) in-flight calibration system

Robert S. Wilson; Robert Benjamin Lee III; Bruce R. Barkstrom; Herbert C. Bitting; Jack Paden; Dhirendra K. Pandey; Kory J. Priestley; G. Louis Smith; Susan Thomas; K. Lee Thornhill

doi:10.1117/12.325638

3 October 1998 On-orbit solar calibrations using the TRMM clouds and the Earth's radiant energy system (CERES) in-flight calibration system

Robert S. Wilson, Robert Benjamin Lee III, Bruce R. Barkstrom, Herbert C. Bitting, Jack Paden, Dhirendra K. Pandey, Kory J. Priestley, G. Louis Smith, Susan Thomas, K. Lee Thornhill

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3439, Earth Observing Systems III; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.325638
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1998, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The CERES spacecraft scanning thermistor bolometers measure earth-reflected solar and earth-emitted longwave radiances, at the top-of-the-atmosphere. The bolometers measure the earth radiance in the broadband shortwave solar and total spectral bands as well as in the 8-12 micrometers water vapor window spectral band over geographical footprints as small as 10 kilometers at nadir. November 1997, the first set of CERES bolometers was launched on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission spacecraft. Ground vacuum calibrations define the initial count conversion coefficients that are used to convert the bolometer output voltages into filtered earth radiances. The mirror attenuator mosaic (MAM), a solar diffuser plate, was built into the CERES instrument package calibration using the solar radiances reflected from the MAM's. Each MAM consists of baffle-solar diffuser plate system, which guide incoming solar radiances into the instrument fields of view of the shortwave and total wave sensor units. The MAM diffuser reflecting type surface consists of an array of spherical, overcoated with silicon dioxide. Thermistors are located in each MAM plate and baffle. The CERES MAM is designed to yield calibration precisions approaching 2 percent for the total and shortwave detectors. In this paper, the MAM solar calibration data reduction techniques are presented along with on-orbit measurements.

Citation Download Citation

Robert S. Wilson, Robert Benjamin Lee III, Bruce R. Barkstrom, Herbert C. Bitting, Jack Paden, Dhirendra K. Pandey, Kory J. Priestley, G. Louis Smith, Susan Thomas, and K. Lee Thornhill "On-orbit solar calibrations using the TRMM clouds and the Earth's radiant energy system (CERES) in-flight calibration system", Proc. SPIE 3439, Earth Observing Systems III, (3 October 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.325638

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available