AERIER

There were two objectives for this IOP. The first objective was to verify that the calibration on the AERI-ER was reproducible. The second objective was to identify the source of the small (~1 mW / (m2 ster cm-1)) bias that had been identified in the AERI-ER data in clear sky, low PWV situations. Both of these objectives were accomplished by running two AERI-ER systems side-by-side. The AERI-ER system was transported from the University of Wisconsin to the NSA site. A temporary shelter for this second system was constructed close to the operational system (within about 100 m), in order for the two systems to run together for a 6-week period during the cold, dry season.

Activity Summary

There were three, potentially four, phases to this experiment. The length of time required for each phase was the time needed to ensure at least one severe clear period, which occur relatively frequently in January and February on the North Slope. The phases were: 1) Run the two systems side-by-side in their nominal modes to ensure that the calibration is reproducible. 2) Adjust the set-point of the hot blackbody on the second system from 60 degC to (approximately) 30 degC. The intercomparison from the spectra from the two systems ensured that the non-linearity correction used in the AERI-ER systems was adequate. 3) Return the set-point of the hot blackbody on the second system back to its nominal setting, and repeat the intercomparison. This was essentially a repeat of Phase 1 above, but ensured that adjusting the blackbody's set-point did not have any other ramifications to the system. 4) (Optional) Run the second system in rapid-sample mode, maintaining the nominal temporal resolution in the operational system. This permitted the evaluation of the noise-filtering software on Arctic data, where it had not been applied before. The rapid-sampling mode of the second system was done by changing the scene mirror parameter file (which greatly reduced the duty cycle of the instrument) as was done during the Texas 2002 experiment at the SGP site using the AERI in the University of Wisconsin's Winnebago.

Timeline

Campaign Data Sets