Ultraviolet absorption cross-sections of chloro and chlorofluoro-methanes at stratospheric temperatures

Absorption cross-sections of nine halomethanes (CCl₄, CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂, CH₃Cl, CFCl₃, CF₂Cl₂, CF₃Cl, CHFCl₂, and CHF₂Cl), measured between 174 and 250 nm for temperatures ranging from 225 to 295 K, are presented with uncertainties ranging from 2 to 4% and compared with previous determinations made for comparable temperature ranges.The largest temperature effect which takes place near the absorption threshold, decreases the absorption cross-section up to 50% for highly chlorinated methanes, but is negligible for molecules highly stabilized by hydrogen and/or fluorine. Extrapolated values for temperatures of aeronomical interest are presented, as well as parametrical formulas which give absorption cross-section values for given wavelength and temperature ranges.     

The Visible Solar Spectral Irradiance from 350 to 850 nm As Measured by the SOLSPEC Spectrometer During the ATLAS I Mission

The SOLSPEC instrument has been built to carry out solar spectral irradiance measurements from 200 to 3000 nm. It consists of three spectrometers designed to measure the solar spectral irradiance in ultraviolet, visible, and infrared domains. It flew with the ATLAS I mission in March 1992. This paper is dedicated to the visible part of the solar spectrum. Comparisons with recent data are shown and differences below 450 nm are discussed.     

Temperature-dependence of ultraviolet absorption cross-sections of alternative chlorofluoroethanes: 2. The 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro ethane -HCFC-124

The temperature-dependent ultraviolet absorption cross-sections of CF₃-CHFCI (HCFC-124) have been measured between 170 and 230 nm for temperatures ranging from 295 to 210 K, with uncertainties between 2 and 4%. These results are compared with other available sets of determinations. Temperature effects are discussed and the photodissociation coefficients, presented with their temperature dependence, are calculated. Implication of the temperature dependences on the stratospheric chemistry is also discussed. Parametrical formulae are proposed to compute absorption crosssection values for wavelengths and temperatures useful in modelling calculations.     

OBSERVATION OF THE UV SOLAR SPECTRAL IRRADIANCE BETWEEN 200 AND 350 nm DURING THE ATLAS I MISSION BY THE SOLSPEC SPECTROMETER

The SOLSPEC instrument has been built to carry out solar spectral irradiance measurements from space. It consists of three spectrometers designed to measure the solar spectral irradiance from 180 to 3000 nm. It flew for the first time in December 1983 with the SpaceLab 1 mission (SL1) and later with the ATLAS missions after significant improvement of the instrument optics and calibration procedures. For the ATLAS 1 mission in March 1992, the thermal conditions encountered during the measurements were better than those of SL1, leading to better data quality. Furthermore, other Sun spectrometers, two on the same platform and two others on board the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, have also carried out UV absolute spectral measurements at the same time. These opportunities allowed comparisons of solar irradiance determinations. The UV part of the measurements made during that mission is presented here as well as its calibration and accuracy analysis.     

The Solar Irradiance Spectrum at Solar Activity Minimum Between Solar Cycles 23 and 24

On 7 February 2008, the SOLAR payload was placed onboard the International Space Station. It is composed of three instruments, two spectrometers and a radiometer. The two spectrometers allow us to cover the 16?–?2900 nm spectral range. In this article, we first briefly present the instrumentation, its calibration and its performance in orbit. Second, the solar spectrum measured during the transition between Solar Cycles 23 to 24 at the time of the minimum is shown and compared with other data sets. Its accuracy is estimated as a function of wavelength and the solar atmosphere brightness-temperature is calculated and compared with those derived from two theoretical models.     

The Solar Spectral Irradiance from 200 to 2400 nm as Measured by the SOLSPEC Spectrometer from the Atlas and Eureca Missions

The SOLar SPECtrum (SOLSPEC) and the SOlar SPectrum (SOSP) spectrometers are two twin instruments built to carry out solar spectral irradiance measurements. They are made of three spectrometers dedicated to observations in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared domains. SOLSPEC flew with the ATmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS) while SOSP flew on the EUropean Retrieval CArrier (EURECA) missions. ATLAS 1 and 2 data being already published, this paper is mostly dedicated to the ATLAS 3 and EURECA data in the IR domain. Comparisons between the ATLAS data sets and the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) results are made. EURECA IR data are shown and compared with previous results. Our best UV, visible and IR spectra are finally merged into a single absolute solar irradiance spectrum covering the 200 to 2400 nm domain.     

Temperature-dependence of ultraviolet absorption cross-sections of alternative chlorofluoroethanes

The absorption cross-sections of HCFC-123 (CF₃–CHCl₂), HCFC-141b (CH₃–CFCl₂) and HCFC-142b (CH₃–CF₂Cl) are measured between 170 and 250 nm for temperatures ranging from 295 to 210 K with uncertainties between 2 and 4%. They are compared with other available determinations. Temperature effects are discussed and parametrical formulae are proposed to compute the absorption cross-section for wavelengths and temperatures useful in atmospheric modelling calculations. Photodissociation coefficients are presented and their temperature-dependence is discussed.     

Ultraviolet absorption spectrum of trifluoro-bromo-methane,difluoro-dibromo-methane and difluoro-bromo-chloro-methane in the vapor phase

Ultraviolet absorption cross-sections of trifluoro-bromo-methane (CF₃Br-Halon 1301), difluoro-dibromo-methane (CF₂Br₂-Halon 1202) and of difluoro-bromo-chloro-methane (CF₂BrCl-Halon 1211) are measured in the wavelength interval 172–304 nm for temperatures ranging from 210 to 295 K with uncertainties of between 2 and 4%. They are compared with previous measurements available at room temperature. Temperature effects are discussed and parametrical formulae are proposed to compute the absorption cross-sections for wavelengths and temperatures useful in atmospheric modelling calculations. Photodissociation coefficients are presented and their temperature dependence is discussed.     

The LYRA Instrument Onboard PROBA2: Description and In-Flight Performance

The Large Yield Radiometer (LYRA) is an XUV–EUV–MUV (soft X-ray to mid-ultraviolet) solar radiometer onboard the European Space Agency Project for On-Board Autonomy 2 (PROBA2) mission, which was launched in November 2009. LYRA acquires solar-irradiance measurements at a high cadence (nominally 20?Hz) in four broad spectral channels, from soft X-ray to MUV, which have been chosen for their relevance to solar physics, space weather, and aeronomy. We briefly review the design of the instrument, give an overview of the data products distributed through the instrument website, and describe how the data are calibrated. We also briefly present a summary of the main fields of research currently under investigation by the LYRA consortium.     

On-Orbit Degradation of Solar Instruments

We present the lessons learned about the degradation observed in several space solar missions, based on contributions at the Workshop about On-Orbit Degradation of Solar and Space Weather Instruments that took place at the Solar Terrestrial Centre of Excellence (Royal Observatory of Belgium) in Brussels on 3 May 2012. The aim of this workshop was to open discussions related to the degradation observed in Sun-observing instruments exposed to the effects of the space environment. This article summarizes the various lessons learned and offers recommendations to reduce or correct expected degradation with the goal of increasing the useful lifespan of future and ongoing space missions.