Instrument

SSFR
Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer

The Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer (SSFR) is an airborne radiometer developed by the Ames Atmospheric Radiation Group. It measures solar spectral irradiance in the troposphere. SSFR works within the 300-2150 nm wavelength range and offers a spectral resolution of 8-12 nm. It typically collects data at 1 Hz and has a radiometric accuracy of 3%.

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 > Spectral Irradiance

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Radiative Flux

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Radiation

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Atmospheric Radiation > Solar Irradiance

Vertical Measurement Regions

Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

1 Hz

Spatial Resolution

N/A

Measurement Frequency

140-1000 THz

Calibration Details

https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JD002411

Online Information

Lead Investigator
Peter Pilewskie
Technical Contact
Peter Pilewskie
Instrument Maker
Ames Atmospheric Radiation Group
Funding Source
NASA
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repository
- Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC)

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

DC-8

Douglas DC-8

43 Campaigns · 180 Instruments

SEAC4RS

Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys

2013

North America including portions of Canada, Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico

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· 20 Data Products

DC3

Deep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

2012

Northeastern Colorado, West Texas to Central Oklahoma, Northern Alabama

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· 19 Data Products

TC4

Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling

2007

Costa Rica, tropical Eastern Pacific

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· 1 Data Product

Global Hawk

5 Campaigns · 28 Instruments

ATTREX

Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment

2011—2015

California, Guam, Tropics

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· 5 Data Products

P-3

P-3 Orion

26 Campaigns · 139 Instruments

ARCTAS

Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites

2008

Alaska, Western Canada, California

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· 27 Data Products

ORACLES

Observations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

2016—2018

Southeastern Atlantic Ocean, Southern Africa

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· 8 Data Products

ARCSIX

Arctic Radiation-Cloud-Aerosol-Surface Interaction EXperiment

2024

Greenland, Arctic Ocean

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· 0 Data Products

CAMP2Ex

Clouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

2019

Philippines

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· 12 Data Products

ER-2

NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

63 Campaigns · 107 Instruments

SAFARI 2000

Southern African Regional Science Initiative

1999—2001

Southern Africa

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· 117 Data Products

PODEX

POlarimeter Definition EXperiment

2013

San Joaquin Valley, California

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· 0 Data Products

TC4

Tropical Composition, Cloud and Climate Coupling

2007

Costa Rica, tropical Eastern Pacific

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· 1 Data Product

CRYSTAL-FACE

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

2002

Southern Florida

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· 1 Data Product

ORACLES

Observations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

2016—2018

Southeastern Atlantic Ocean, Southern Africa

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· 8 Data Products

SEAC4RS

Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys

2013

North America including portions of Canada, Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico

view all deployment dates

· 20 Data Products

FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998

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

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· 131 Data Products

CV-580

Convair-580

8 Campaigns · 43 Instruments

SAFARI 2000

Southern African Regional Science Initiative

1999—2001

Southern Africa

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· 117 Data Products

FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998

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

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· 131 Data Products

Twin Otter

DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

20 Campaigns · 73 Instruments

CRYSTAL-FACE

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

2002

Southern Florida

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· 1 Data Product

C-130

C-130 Hercules

18 Campaigns · 93 Instruments

ARISE

Arctic Radiation - IceBridge Sea and Ice Experiment

2014

Alaska, Beaufort Sea

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· 5 Data Products

Des Groseilliers

CCGS Des Groseilliers

1 Campaign · 11 Instruments

FIRE

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

1986—1998

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

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· 131 Data Products

J-31

Jetstream 31

3 Campaigns · 5 Instruments

INTEX-NA

Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

2004—2006

North America, Gulf of Mexico, North Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean

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· 21 Data Products

MILAGRO

Megacity Initiative: Local and Global Research Observations

2006

Mexico City Metropolitan Area

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· 0 Data Products

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Permanent Land Site

Campaign Permanent Land Sites

Stationary

55 Campaigns · 77 Instruments

SUCCESS

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

1996

Central and Western United States

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· 1 Data Product

WB-57

NASA WB-57

16 Campaigns · 80 Instruments

CRYSTAL-FACE

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

2002

Southern Florida

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

CAMP2Ex In-Situ Radiation Data10.5067/Airborne/CAMP2Ex_Radiation_AircraftInSitu_P3_Data_1

CampaignsClouds, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes-Philippines Experiment

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT, HDF

DC3 In-Situ DC-8 Aircraft Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/DC3_Radiation_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsDeep Convective Clouds & Chemistry

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

ARISE 2014 C-130 In-Situ Radiation Data10.5067/AIRCRAFT/ARISE_Radiation_AircraftInSitu_C130_Data_1

CampaignsArctic Radiation - IceBridge Sea and Ice Experiment

PlatformsC-130 Hercules

FormatsICARTT, HDF5

SAFARI 2000 Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer Data, Southern Africa, Dry Season 200010.3334/ORNLDAAC/841

CampaignsSouthern African Regional Science Initiative

PlatformsConvair-580

First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE) Arctic Cloud Experiment (ACE) Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer (SSFR)10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/FIRE/0006

CampaignsFirst International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

PlatformsCCGS Des Groseilliers

FormatsOther (NetCDF)

Cirrus Regional Study of Tropical Anvils and Cirrus Layers - Florida Area Cirrus Experiment (CRYSTAL-FACE) Quick-Look Data

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

PlatformsCessna Citation II, NASA WB-57, Campaign Field Sites, NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

ORACLES Radiation Aircraft InSitu Data10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/ORACLES_Radiation_AircraftInSitu_Data_1

CampaignsObservations of Aerosols above Clouds and their Interactions

PlatformsP-3 Orion, NASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

FormatsICARTT

SEAC4RS ER-2 Aircraft In-Situ Radiation Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SEAC4RS_Radiation_AircraftInSitu_ER2_Data_1

CampaignsStudies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys

PlatformsNASA Earth Resources-2 Aircraft

SEAC4RS DC-8 Aircraft In-Situ Radiation Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/SEAC4RS_Radiation_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsStudies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

INTEXA_J31_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsJetstream 31

INTEXB_J31_AIRCRAFT

CampaignsIntercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment - North America

PlatformsJetstream 31

ARCTAS P-3B Aircraft Radiation In-situ Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/ARCTAS_Radiation_AircraftinSitu_P3B_Data_1

CampaignsArctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites

PlatformsP-3 Orion

FormatsICARTT

ATTREX Global Hawk UAS Radiation Measurements10.5067/ASDC_DAAC/ATTREX/0004

CampaignsAirborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment

PlatformsGlobal Hawk

FormatsICARTT

SSFRSolar Spectral Flux Radiometer

Overview

Instrument Details

Instrument Operation

Data Products

SSFR
Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer