A Multi-Spectral Polarimeter for Measurements of Direct Solar and Diffused Sky Radiation: Calibration and Measurements

A multi-spectral polarimeter (FPR1000) is designed to measure the radiance and degree of polarization of the sky radiation as well as the extinction of solar irradiance using the same optical system. This enables us to make consistent measurements of the direct solar and diffused sky radiation. Measurements are made at the same wavelength regions as Polarization and Directionality of the Earth’s Reflectances (POLDER) and Ocean Color and Temperature Scanner (OCTS) onboard Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS). Based on measurements for the Langley plot calibration made at Mauna Loa Observatory, the calibration constants are obtained by considering the effect of absorption by water vapor and uniformly mixed gas. Preliminary analyses of the measurements of sky radiation and direct solar irradiance carried out in the western part of the Pacific Ocean are presented. Combined measurements of the extinction of solar irradiance, and the radiance and degree of polarization of sky radiation could be useful in improving retrieval of optical characteristics of aerosol and for atmospheric correction.