Back to Explore

Instrument

TSI
Total Sky Imager

The Total Sky Imager (TSI) is a ground-based optical instrument developed by Yankee Environmental Systems (YES), Inc. TSI provides full-color, hemispheric images of the sky during daylight hours using a charge-coupled device (CCD) imager. It also measures fractional sky cover and sun obscuration caused by clouds. TSI can be mounted on mobile platforms such as trailers and research vehicles, enabling it to collect cloud cover data at different locations during field studies.

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

Optical/Photon

Measurement/Variables

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds > Cloud Properties > Cloud Fraction

Earth Science > Atmosphere > Clouds

Vertical Measurement Regions

Troposphere

Temporal Resolution

Variable

Spatial Resolution

Variable

Measurement Frequency

N/A

Calibration Details

Currently unavailable

Online Information

Lead Investigator
Donna Flynn, Victor Morris
Technical Contact
Donna Flynn, Victor Morris
Instrument Maker
Yankee Environmental Systems, Inc.
Funding Source
Currently unavailable
Overview Publications
Currently unavailable
Repositories
- Global Hydrology Resource Center DAAC (GHRC)
- data center outside NASA

Instrument Operation

Platform

Campaigns, where the platform was used with this instrument

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

Field Site

76 Campaigns · 175 Instruments

Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

Southern Appalachians, including portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia

view all deployment dates

· 47 Data Products

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

Southern Florida

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

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

view all deployment dates

· 131 Data Products

NASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses

Cape Verde Islands, Atlantic Ocean

view all deployment dates

· 22 Data Products

Cumulus Humilis Aerosol Process Study

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

view all deployment dates

· 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

23 Campaigns · 85 Instruments

Cloud and Land Surface Interaction Campaign 2007

Southern Great Plains, Oklahoma, Kansas

view all deployment dates

· 7 Data Products

photo of the research vessel Ronald H Brown

photo of the research vessel Ronald H Brown

R/V Ronald H. Brown

4 Campaigns · 51 Instruments

CalWater

California, Sierra Nevada Range

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

Image of Des Groseilliers Image

Image of Des Groseilliers Image

CCGS Des Groseilliers

Canadian Coast Guard Ship Des Groseilliers

1 Campaign · 11 Instruments

First International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) Regional Experiment

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

view all deployment dates

· 131 Data Products

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Image of a FLUXNET tower in Harvard Forests, Maine

Permanent Land Site

Permanent Land Site

63 Campaigns · 100 Instruments

Middle Latitude Cirrus Experiment

South-central United States

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

SUbsonic aircraft: Contrail & Clouds Effects Special Study

Central and Western United States

view all deployment dates

· 1 Data Product

Plains Elevated Convection at Night

Great Plains, United States

view all deployment dates

· 0 Data Products

Data Products

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

Campaigns

Platforms

Formats

GPM GROUND VALIDATION TOTAL SKY IMAGER IPHEX V110.5067/GPMGV/IPHEX/SKY-IMAGER/DATA101

CampaignsIntegrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment

PlatformsField Site

KORUS-AQ DC-8 Aircraft In Situ Aerosol Data10.5067/ASDC/SUBORBITAL/KORUSAQ_Aerosol_AircraftInSitu_DC8_Data_1

CampaignsKorean United States - Air Quality

PlatformsDouglas DC-8

FormatsICARTT

NAMMA SMART-COMMIT MOBILE LABORATORIES V1http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/NAMMA/MULTIPLE/DATA203

CampaignsNASA African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analyses

PlatformsField Site