Practical aspects of achieving accurate radiometric field measurements

This paper provides practical advice for investigators new to the field of high accuracy radiometric experiments. Sources typically used for calibrating land reflectance measurement instruments are identified, and some special considerations for their use are highlighted. The physical nature of the processes determining the output of these sources is emphasized, and an estimate of the typical calibration accuracies achieved with these sources is described. Several techniques for the validation and verification of instrument characterization are reviewed. Experiment design of the Backscattered Ultraviolet Spectrometer (BUV) and the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) are introduced as successful mission designs for accomplishing high accuracy radiation measurements from space. The goal of this paper is to introduce reasoning developed in other missions to experiments devoted to sensing the earth's surface and near surface.