Paper
18 June 2001 NIST activities in support of space-based radiometric remote sensing
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Abstract
We provide an historical overview of NIST research and development in radiometry for space-based remote sensing. The applications in this field can be generally divided into two areas: environmental and defense. In the environmental remote sensing area, NIST has had programs with agencies such as the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to verify and improve traceability of the radiometric calibration of sensors that fly on board Earth-observing satellites. These produce data used in climate models and weather prediction. Over the years, the scope of activities has expanded from existing routine calibration services for artifacts such as lamps, diffusers, and filters, to development and off-site deployment of portable radiometers for radiance- and irradiance-scale intercomparisons. In the defense remote sensing area, NIST has had programs with agencies such as the Department of Defense (DOD) for support of calibration of small, low-level infrared sources in a low infrared background. These are used by the aerospace industry to simulate ballistic missiles in a cold space background. Activities have evolved from calibration of point-source cryogenic blackbodies at NIST to measurement of irradiance in off-site calibration chambers by a portable vacuum/cryogenic radiometer. Both areas of application required measurements on the cutting edge of what was technically feasible, thus compelling NIST to develop a state-of-the-art radiometric measurement infrastructure to meet the needs. This infrastructure has led to improved dissemination of the NIST spectroradiometric quantities.
© (2001) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Joseph P. Rice and B. Carol Johnson "NIST activities in support of space-based radiometric remote sensing", Proc. SPIE 4450, Harnessing Light: Optical Science and Metrology at NIST, (18 June 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.431245
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Cited by 15 scholarly publications.
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KEYWORDS
Calibration

Radiometry

Remote sensing

Sensors

Black bodies

Temperature metrology

Lamps

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