Autonomous marine hyperspectral radiometers for determining solar irradiances and aerosol optical properties

We have developed two hyperspectral radiometer systems which require no moving parts, shade rings or motorised tracking, making them ideally suited for autonomous use in the inhospitable remote marine environment. Both systems are able to measure direct and diffuse hyperspectral irradiance in the wa...

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Main Authors: J. Wood, T. J. Smyth, V. Estellés
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2017-05-01
Series:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
Online Access:http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/10/1723/2017/amt-10-1723-2017.pdf
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author J. Wood
T. J. Smyth
V. Estellés
author_facet J. Wood
T. J. Smyth
V. Estellés
author_sort J. Wood
collection DOAJ
description We have developed two hyperspectral radiometer systems which require no moving parts, shade rings or motorised tracking, making them ideally suited for autonomous use in the inhospitable remote marine environment. Both systems are able to measure direct and diffuse hyperspectral irradiance in the wavelength range 350–1050 nm at 6 nm (Spectrometer 1) or 3.5 nm (Spectrometer 2) resolution. Marine field trials along a 100° transect (between 50° N and 50° S) of the Atlantic Ocean resulted in close agreement with existing commercially available instruments in measuring (1) photosynthetically available radiation (PAR), with both spectrometers giving regression slopes close to unity (Spectrometer 1: 0.960; Spectrometer 2: 1.006) and <i>R</i><sup>2</sup>  ∼  0.96; (2) irradiant energy, with <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> ∼  0.98 and a regression slope of 0.75 which can be accounted for by the difference in wavelength integration range; and (3) hyperspectral irradiance where the agreement on average was between 2 and 5 %. Two long duration land-based field campaigns of up to 18 months allowed both spectrometers to be well calibrated. This was also invaluable for empirically correcting for the wider field of view (FOV) of the spectrometers in comparison with the current generation of sun photometers ( ∼  7.5° compared with  ∼  1°). The need for this correction was also confirmed and independently quantified by atmospheric radiative transfer modelling and found to be a function of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and solar zenith angle. Once Spectrometer 2 was well calibrated and the FOV effect corrected for, the RMSE in retrievals of AOD when compared with a CIMEL sun photometer were reduced to  ∼  0.02–0.03 with <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> &gt; 0.95 at wavelengths 440, 500, 670 and 870 nm. Corrections for the FOV as well as ship motion were applied to the data from the marine field trials. This resulted in AOD<sub>500 nm</sub> ranging between 0.05 in the clear background marine aerosol regions and  ∼  0.5 within the Saharan dust plume. The RMSE between the handheld Microtops sun photometer and Spectrometer 2 was between 0.047 and 0.057 with <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> &gt; 0.94.
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spelling doaj.art-380f6668144349ec8f7a357ad212beb92022-12-21T21:47:31ZengCopernicus PublicationsAtmospheric Measurement Techniques1867-13811867-85482017-05-011051723173710.5194/amt-10-1723-2017Autonomous marine hyperspectral radiometers for determining solar irradiances and aerosol optical propertiesJ. Wood0T. J. Smyth1V. Estellés2Peak Design Ltd, Sunnybank House, Wensley Rd, Winster, Derbys, DE4 2DH, UKPlymouth Marine Laboratory (PML), Prospect Place, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 3DH, UKDept. Física de la Terra i Termodinàmica, Universitat de València, Burjassot, 46100, SpainWe have developed two hyperspectral radiometer systems which require no moving parts, shade rings or motorised tracking, making them ideally suited for autonomous use in the inhospitable remote marine environment. Both systems are able to measure direct and diffuse hyperspectral irradiance in the wavelength range 350–1050 nm at 6 nm (Spectrometer 1) or 3.5 nm (Spectrometer 2) resolution. Marine field trials along a 100° transect (between 50° N and 50° S) of the Atlantic Ocean resulted in close agreement with existing commercially available instruments in measuring (1) photosynthetically available radiation (PAR), with both spectrometers giving regression slopes close to unity (Spectrometer 1: 0.960; Spectrometer 2: 1.006) and <i>R</i><sup>2</sup>  ∼  0.96; (2) irradiant energy, with <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> ∼  0.98 and a regression slope of 0.75 which can be accounted for by the difference in wavelength integration range; and (3) hyperspectral irradiance where the agreement on average was between 2 and 5 %. Two long duration land-based field campaigns of up to 18 months allowed both spectrometers to be well calibrated. This was also invaluable for empirically correcting for the wider field of view (FOV) of the spectrometers in comparison with the current generation of sun photometers ( ∼  7.5° compared with  ∼  1°). The need for this correction was also confirmed and independently quantified by atmospheric radiative transfer modelling and found to be a function of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and solar zenith angle. Once Spectrometer 2 was well calibrated and the FOV effect corrected for, the RMSE in retrievals of AOD when compared with a CIMEL sun photometer were reduced to  ∼  0.02–0.03 with <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> &gt; 0.95 at wavelengths 440, 500, 670 and 870 nm. Corrections for the FOV as well as ship motion were applied to the data from the marine field trials. This resulted in AOD<sub>500 nm</sub> ranging between 0.05 in the clear background marine aerosol regions and  ∼  0.5 within the Saharan dust plume. The RMSE between the handheld Microtops sun photometer and Spectrometer 2 was between 0.047 and 0.057 with <i>R</i><sup>2</sup> &gt; 0.94.http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/10/1723/2017/amt-10-1723-2017.pdf
spellingShingle J. Wood
T. J. Smyth
V. Estellés
Autonomous marine hyperspectral radiometers for determining solar irradiances and aerosol optical properties
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
title Autonomous marine hyperspectral radiometers for determining solar irradiances and aerosol optical properties
title_full Autonomous marine hyperspectral radiometers for determining solar irradiances and aerosol optical properties
title_fullStr Autonomous marine hyperspectral radiometers for determining solar irradiances and aerosol optical properties
title_full_unstemmed Autonomous marine hyperspectral radiometers for determining solar irradiances and aerosol optical properties
title_short Autonomous marine hyperspectral radiometers for determining solar irradiances and aerosol optical properties
title_sort autonomous marine hyperspectral radiometers for determining solar irradiances and aerosol optical properties
url http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/10/1723/2017/amt-10-1723-2017.pdf
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