Rattlesnake Mountain Observatory (46.4° N, 119.6° W) Multispectral Optical Depth Measurements: 1979-1994

NDP-053

DOI: 10.3334/CDIAC/atg.ndp053

Data

Investigators

N. R. Larson, J. J. Michalsky, and B. A. LeBaron

Surface measurements of solar irradiance of the atmosphere were made by a multipurpose computer-controlled scanning photometer at the Rattlesnake Mountain Observatory in eastern Washington. The observatory is located at 46.4° N, 119.6° W at an elevation of 1088 m above mean sea level. The photometer measures the attenuation of direct solar radiation for different wavelengths using 12 filters. Five of these filters (i.e., at 428 nm, 486 nm, 535 nm, 785 nm, and 1010 nm, with respective half-power widths of 2, 2, 3, 18, and 28 nm) are suitable for monitoring variations in the total optical depth of the atmosphere.