The TSI Radiometer Facility: absolute calibrations for total solar irradiance instruments

Greg Kopp; Karl Heuerman; Dave Harber; Ginger Drake

doi:10.1117/12.734553

26 September 2007 The TSI Radiometer Facility: absolute calibrations for total solar irradiance instruments

Greg Kopp, Karl Heuerman, Dave Harber, Ginger Drake

Proceedings Volume 6677, Earth Observing Systems XII; 667709 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.734553
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The total solar irradiance (TSI) climate data record includes overlapping measurements from 10 spaceborne radiometers. The continuity of this climate data record is essential for detecting potential long-term solar fluctuations, as offsets between different instruments generally exceed the stated instrument uncertainties. The risk of loss of continuity in this nearly 30-year record drives the need for future instruments with <0.01% uncertainty on a absolute scale. No facility currently exists to calibrate a TSI instrument end-to-end for irradiance at solar power levels to these needed accuracy levels. The new TSI Radiometer Facility (TRF) is intended to provide such calibrations. Based on a cryogenic radiometer with a uniform input light source of solar irradiance power levels, the TRF allows direct comparisons between a TSI instrument and a reference cryogenic radiometer viewing the same light beam in a common vacuum system. We describe here the details of this facility designed to achieve 0.01% absolute accuracy.

Citation Download Citation

Greg Kopp, Karl Heuerman, Dave Harber, and Ginger Drake "The TSI Radiometer Facility: absolute calibrations for total solar irradiance instruments", Proc. SPIE 6677, Earth Observing Systems XII, 667709 (26 September 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.734553

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