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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

TIM

Introduction

 

The Total Irradiance Monitor (TIM) measures the total solar irradiance (TSI), the spatially and spectrally integrated solar radiation incident at the top of the Earth’s atmosphere. The TIM continues this solar climate data record, which began from space in 1978 and is used to determine the sensitivity of the Earth’s climate to the natural effects of solar forcing.

The TIM TSI measurements monitor the incident sunlight to the Earth’s atmosphere using an ambient temperature active cavity radiometer. Using electrical substitution radiometers (ESRs) and taking advantage of new materials and modern electronics, the TSIS/TIM is expected to measure TSI to an estimated absolute accuracy of 100 ppm (0.01%).