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Instrument

4-STAR
Spectrometers for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research

The Spectrometers for Sky-Scanning, Sun-Tracking Atmospheric Research (4-STAR) is an airborne sun-sky spectrometer that measures direct solar irradiance and sky radiance. These measurements can be used to retrieve column-integrated information on aerosols, clouds, and trace gases such as aerosol optical depth, extinction, and single scattering albedo. 4-STAR operates in the 350-1650 nm wavelength range and has a typical horizontal resolution of about 100 m.

image of the 4-STAR instrument
NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory passes Antarctica's tallest peak, Mount Vinson, on Oct. 22, 2012, during a flight over the continent to measure changes in the massive ice sheet and sea ice. Credit: NASA/Michael Studinger (Photography courtesy NASA Images)

Instrument Details

Spectrometer/Radiometer
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Optical Depth/thickness > Angstrom Exponent
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Trace Gases/trace Species
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Extinction
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Water Vapor > Water Vapor Profiles
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Aerosols > Aerosol Optical Depth/thickness
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Oxygen Compounds > Ozone
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Chemistry > Nitrogen Compounds > Nitrogen Dioxide
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Microphysics > Cloud Liquid Water/ice
Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Dynamics
Column Integrated
0.1-4 Hz
100 m
182-856THz
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs5083872External Link
  • Meloe S. Kacenelenbogen, Stephen Broccardo, Phillip B. Russell, Jens Redemann

  • Meloe S. Kacenelenbogen

  • NASA Ames Sun-photometer-Satellite Group, the Department of Energy (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) Atmospheric Sciences and Global Change Division, and NASA Goddard’s AERONET

  • NASA Radiation Science Program, the Ames Instrument Working Group, the DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program, Battelle’s Pacific Northwest Division, and the NOAA Office of Global Programs

  • Overview PublicationExternal Link

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