The 1996 North American Interagency Intercomparison of Ultraviolet Monitoring Spectroradiometers

Published

September 1, 1998

Author(s)

E A. Thompson, B. Carol Johnson, P Disterhoft, D Wardle, E Wu, J Ehramjian, J Tusson, T Mestechkina, M Beaubian, J Gibson, D Hayes, J DeLuisi, E A. Early, W Mou

Abstract

Concern over stratospheric ozone depletion has prompted several government agencies in North America to establish networks of spectroradiometers for monitoring solar ultraviolet irradiance at the surface of the Earth. To assess the ability of spectroradiometers to accurately measure solar ultraviolet irradiance, and to compare the results between instruments of different monitoring networks, the third North American Intercomparison of Ultraviolet Monitoring Spectroradiometers was held June 17 to 25, 1996 at Table Mountain outside Boulder, Colorado, USA. This Intercomparison was coordinated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Science Foundation; the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center; the Department of Agriculture; and the Atmospheric Environment Service, Canada. The spectral irradiance of participants' calibrated standard lamps were measured at NIST prior to the Intercomparison. The spectral irradiance scales used by the participants agreed with the NIST scale within the combined uncertainties, and for all the lamps the spectral irradiance in the horizontal position was lower than that in the vertical position. Instruments were characterized for wavelength uncertainty, bandwidth, stray-light rejection, and spectral irradiance responsivity, the latter with NIST standard lamps operating in specially designed field calibration units. The spectral irradiance responsivity demonstrated instabilities for some instruments. Synchronized spectral irradiance responsivities determined with the NIST standard lamps, the measured solar irradiance had some unexplained systematic differences between instruments.

Citation

Journal of Research (NIST JRES) -

Volume

103 No. 5

NIST Pub Series

Journal of Research (NIST JRES)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Keywords

environmental monitoring, intercomparison, solar ultraviolet, spectroradiometers

Citation

Thompson, E. , Johnson, B. , Disterhoft, P. , Wardle, D. , Wu, E. , Ehramjian, J. , Tusson, J. , Mestechkina, T. , Beaubian, M. , Gibson, J. , Hayes, D. , DeLuisi, J. , Early, E. and Mou, W. (1998), The 1996 North American Interagency Intercomparison of Ultraviolet Monitoring Spectroradiometers, Journal of Research (NIST JRES), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (Accessed April 18, 2024)