ABSTRACT
Electromagnetic (EM) radiation is important for many atmospheric and oceanic processes. The solar radiative energy reaching the top of atmosphere is the major source of energy feeding weather and climate phenomena on Earth. Additionally, airborne observations of EM radiation are fundamental to develop, test, and apply remote sensing techniques to retrieve atmospheric and Earth’s surface properties. The important spectral range for the application of airborne measurements of EM radiation in energy budget and remote sensing studies covers wavelengths between 0.3 and 100 μm. Instruments that measure broadband solar irradiance are often called pyranometers or broadband radiometers. Spectral radiometers measure radiometric quantities in narrow spectral bands as function of wavelength. The main setup of the spectroradiometers for actinic radiation measurements is similar to that of a spectroradiometer for irradiance measurements, except that the optical inlet has an isotropic angular response. A typical airborne irradiance sensor (broadband or spectral) is fixed with the fuselage of the aircraft.
