Middle Ultraviolet Solar Spectral Irradiance Measurements, 1985-1992, from the SBUV/2 and SSBUV Instruments

Abstract

Solar spectral irradiance measurements from the NOAA-9 and NOAA-11 SBUV/2 instruments and SSBUV are presented and compared. Inter-instrument solar spectral irradiance differences on the order of 5-10% are observed. Internal comparisons of the SBUV/2 solar data suggest instrument sensitivity changes ranging from less than 1% per year near 400 nm to approximately 5% per year near 200 nm.The mission-to-mission accuracy of the SSBUV solar spectral irradiance measurements is better than ±2%. Initial results of our investigation into the feasibility of using SSBUV data to maintain the long-term calibration of the SBUV/2 instruments for solar spectral irradiance monitoring are reviewed.