HR: 15:25h
AN: U13B-05    [Abstracts]
TI: Long-term Observational Record of Solar Irradiance
AU: * Rottman, G
EM: gary.rottman@lasp.colorado.edu
AF: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0590 United States
AB: Solar irradiance is one of the primary climate system variables. It can only be measured from space, and the data record now extends over more than 30 years - about 3 solar cycles. The Sun's energy determines the temperature and structure of the atmosphere, warms the Earth surface, cycles the planet's water, generates clouds, and sustains life. A precise knowledge of solar irradiance, both total solar irradiance and spectral solar irradiance, is necessary for Earth sciences. Moreover, today's solar data sets will be essential to future climate research, but only if they provide a benchmark that is reliable and accurate. Fortunately, today's instruments are well characterized and can achieve accuracy and precision better than 300 parts per million (ppm) at visible and near infrared wavelengths. At ultraviolet wavelengths this level of accuracy is not achievable, but fortunately other techniques, including the direct comparison of the Sun to standard stars, are used to establish long-term accuracy of the data sets. This talk reviews the state-of-the-art in measuring solar irradiance.
DE: 1616 Climate variability (1635, 3305, 3309, 4215, 4513)
DE: 1650 Solar variability (7537)
DE: 7536 Solar activity cycle (2162)
DE: 7538 Solar irradiance
DE: 7594 Instruments and techniques
SC: Union [U]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005