Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Design and Performance Analysis of an Automated 10-Channel Solar Radiometer Instrument

A. R. Ehsani Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

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J. A. Reagan Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

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W. H. Erxleben Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

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Print Publication:
01 Jun 1998
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(1998)015<0697:DAPAOA>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
697–707
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Abstract

An automated multichannel solar radiometer has been designed and fabricated by the Atmospheric Remote Sensing Laboratory at The University of Arizona. The automated radiometer has 10 separate silicon-photodiode-based channels that allow near-simultaneous solar spectral measurements through narrow bandpass filters (approximately 10 nm) from the visible to near-IR regions. The photodiode detectors are temperature stabilized using a heating temperature controller circuit. The instrument is pointed toward the sun via an autotracking system that actively tracks the sun with a ±0.05° tracking accuracy. The instrument can continuously collect data for about 22 h at once per minute sample rate. This paper presents instrument design features as well as some performance and experimental results for the automated solar radiometer.

Corresponding author address: Prof. John A. Reagan, Dept. of ECE, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210104, Tucson, AZ 85721-0104.

Abstract

An automated multichannel solar radiometer has been designed and fabricated by the Atmospheric Remote Sensing Laboratory at The University of Arizona. The automated radiometer has 10 separate silicon-photodiode-based channels that allow near-simultaneous solar spectral measurements through narrow bandpass filters (approximately 10 nm) from the visible to near-IR regions. The photodiode detectors are temperature stabilized using a heating temperature controller circuit. The instrument is pointed toward the sun via an autotracking system that actively tracks the sun with a ±0.05° tracking accuracy. The instrument can continuously collect data for about 22 h at once per minute sample rate. This paper presents instrument design features as well as some performance and experimental results for the automated solar radiometer.

Corresponding author address: Prof. John A. Reagan, Dept. of ECE, The University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210104, Tucson, AZ 85721-0104.

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Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

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