Development of an integrating sphere calibration method for Cimel sunphotometers in China aerosol remote sensing network--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Tao, R., Che, H., Chen, Q., Wang, Y., Sun, J., Zhang, X., Lu, S., Guo, J., Wang, H., & Zhang, X. (2014). Development of an integrating sphere calibration method for Cimel sunphotometers in China aerosol remote sensing network. Particuology, 13, 88–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2013.04.009

Ran Tao ^a b, Huizheng Che ^b *, Quanliang Chen ^a, Yaqiang Wang ^b, Junying Sun ^b, Xiaochun Zhang ^c, Sai Lu ^c, Jianping Guo ^b, Hong Wang ^b, Xiaoye Zhang ^b

a College of Atmospheric Sciences, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China
b Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry (LAC), Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences (CAMS), CMA, Beijing 100081, China
c Meteorological Observation Center, CMA, Beijing 100081, China

10.1016/j.partic.2013.04.009

Volume 13, April 2014, Pages 88-99

Received 11 December 2012, Revised 25 March 2013, Accepted 8 April 2013, Available online 20 July 2013.

E-mail: chehz@cams.cma.gov.cn

Highlights

• The integrating sphere used has high precision and stable radiance output.

• Comparison of calibration results with original Cimel values shows the method's credibility.

• Field measurements further validate the feasibility and precision of the calibration method.

Abstract

Based on the integrating sphere traced from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST, USA), a sphere calibration method and protocol for the China aerosol remote sensing network (CARSNET) Cimel sun photometer was established. Four CE318 sun photometers were verified using the proposed calibration method and operational protocol. The calibration results showed that the instrument coefficients differed by less than 3% for visible (∼5% for infrared) wavelengths from the original ones stated by Cimel Electronique. In situ validation experiment data showed that radiances at ±6° measured by sun collimator (aureole) were consistent with those measured by sky collimator (sky), under both almucantar (ALMUC) and principal plane (PPLAN) scenarios. Differences at all wavelengths were less than 1%, indicating that the method and protocol are suitable for CARSNET field sun photometer calibration, and would benefit improvement of data quality and accuracy of network observations.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

CE318 sunphotometer; Integrating sphere; Calibration; CARSNET

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