AEROSOL remote sensing - SOLAR FOTOMETER
It is a passive sensor that measures direct and diffuse solar radiation at different wavelengths from UV to NIR. Using solar radiation as a source, this instrument is equipped with a scanning system to follow its movement. It has been installed at CIRAS since 2000.
Measured quantities: columnar values of optical thickness of the aerosol at different wavelengths (UV-VIS-NIR), particle size distribution and refractive index, single scattering albedo of aerosol and precipitated water content.
Applications: Study of the optical and physical columnar properties of atmospheric particulate matter and precipitated water content; validation of aerosol observations by satellite.
Networking: this solar photometer is part of the ERS/SKYNET network which consists of 24 sites located in Europe, USA, South America and Antarctica.
