Characterization of Pyranometer Thermal Offset and Correction of Historiacal Data

Abstract

The Eppley Precision Pyranometer (PSP) is a radiometer used in networks around the world to measure downwelling and upwelling diffuse and total hemispherical broadband solar irradiances. PSP's present an offset in the signal, called thermal offset, produced by a radiation heat exchange between the glass dome, which defines the spectral throughput and the detector. This offset can reach up to 15% of the total value of the signal when measuring diffuse irradiance under clear sky conditions. The thermal offset is characterized by monitoring the temperature gradient between the dome and detector using thermistors at key locations. The temperatures are acquired by using thermistors. Relationships between the thermal offset and the temperature gradient are established using nighttime data and subsequently used to estimate the offset during daytime. To correct historical data the thermal offset is related to other variables such as the output of a Precision Infrared Pyrgeometer (PIR) or the fraction of cloud cover in the sky. The use of thermistors is a very reliable method to estimate and correct the thermal offset. The relationships between the offset and the IR output and between the offset and the cloud cover fraction provide good estimates of the thermal offset in historical data sets, reducing it 60% to 100% depending on the instrument and the relationship used.