Research on calibration method in lab of direct solar channels of Sun photometer

Abstract

We develop a new calibration method in lab by measuring the absolute spectral irradiance responsivity of Sun photometer sun channel. The absolute power responsivity of Sun photometer is obtained when a white laser double monochromator system serve as a source, and a standard transfer detector calibrated against cryogenic absolute radiometer is assembled to measure the absolute power of laser beam. The effective area of aperture is measured through laser raster scanning method, and the relative spectral irradiance responsivity of the corresponding channel is obtained by using tungsten-halogen lamps double monochromator system. On the basis of the above results, the top of the atmosphere responsive constants V0 (500, 675, and 870 nm) are obtained by integration with extraterrestrial solar spectral irradiance data. Comparing the calibration results with that of CIMEL, France in November 2011, the relative differences are 4.38%, 2.23%, and 2.45%, respectively. The calibration uncertainty reaches to 2.048×10-2, which shows a remarkable consistency with the Langley plot method. Further, our scheme can overcome the limits of space and atmospheric conditions which are only available at a high-altitude calibration site in particular date. The advantages lie in not only shortening the experiment period but also being of high precision. This new scheme definitely plays an important role in supporting the current and future sun photometry calibration activities which are significant to earth observation.