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Instrument

RAMS
Radiation Measurement System

The Radiation Measurement System (RAMS) is an airborne passive radiometer that measures broadband solar irradiance. RAMS consists of two radiometers: the Total Solar Broadband Radiometer (TSBR) and the Fractional Solar Broadband Radiometer (FSBR). The TSBR operates in the 0.224 to 3.91 μm range while the FSBR operates between 0.68 to 3.3 μm. It has a response time of about 60 msec and can provide measurements about every 5 m for aircraft speeds around 75 m/s. RAMS is typically used for airborne operations, but it can be used to collect ground-based measurements as well.

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)

Overview

Instrument Details

Measurement Type

Spectrometer/Radiometer

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance

Vertical Measurement Regions

Land Surface, Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

60 ms

Spatial Resolution

5 m

Measurement Frequency

77-1338 THz

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1029/97JD02434

Online Information

https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/instrument/RAMS

Lead Investigator
Francisco Valero
Technical Contact
Francisco Valero
Instrument Maker
Currently unavailable
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Overview Publication
Repository
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

Image of ER-2 taking off

Image of ER-2 taking off

NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

48 Campaigns · 106 Instruments

Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Enhanced Shortwave Experiment

Southern Great Plains, Southwestern United States

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· 1 Data Product

Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers Florida Area Cirrus Experiment

Southern Florida

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· 1 Data Product

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

Central and Western United States

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· 1 Data Product

Stratospheric-Tropospheric Exchange Project

Moffett Field, California; Darwin, Australia

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· 0 Data Products

NASA owned image of the DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

NASA owned image of the DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

15 Campaigns · 62 Instruments

Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Enhanced Shortwave Experiment

Southern Great Plains, Southwestern United States

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· 1 Data Product

Grob G-520 Egrett

1 Campaign · 5 Instruments

Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Enhanced Shortwave Experiment

Southern Great Plains, Southwestern United States

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· 1 Data Product

Field site of rain gauges and soil moistures sensors from the IFloodS campaign

Field site of rain gauges and soil moistures sensors from the IFloodS campaign

Campaign Field Sites

57 Campaigns · 160 Instruments

Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Enhanced Shortwave Experiment

Southern Great Plains, Southwestern United States

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· 1 Data Product

C-130 Hercules

15 Campaigns · 85 Instruments

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

Central and Midwest United States, California Coast, Northwest Africa, Alaska

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· 131 Data Products

Douglas DC-8

36 Campaigns · 168 Instruments

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

Central and Western United States

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· 1 Data Product

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Permanent Land Site

Campaign Permanent Land Sites

42 Campaigns · 68 Instruments

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

Central and Western United States

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· 1 Data Product

Data Products

Filter data products from this instrument by specific campaigns, platforms, or formats.

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Arctic Cloud Experiment (ACE) Radiation Measurement System (RAMS)10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0003

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

FormatsOther (NetCDF)