NAS

The Shuttle
Solar Backscatter

1.2:Sh
Ultraviolet Experiment

9/16
0830-C

BARTH SCIENCE AND APPLICATIONS DIVISION

An Issue of Global Ozone Change...
O z o n e d e p l e t i o n in the u p p e r a t m o s p h e r e is a n issue
of increasing c o n c e r n :
• In 1985, t h e British A n t a r c t i c S u r v e y a n n o u n c e d t h e
discovery of a n o z o n e ' h o l e ' o v e r Antarctica during the
a u s t r a l s p r i n g t i m e . A s o f 1987, s e a s o n a l d e p l e t i o n w a s
a s h i g h a s 60 p e r c e n t in s o m e a r e a s o v e r A n t a r c t i c a .
• In M a r c h 1988, t h e N A S A - l e d O z o n e T r e n d s P a n e l
r e p o r t e d t h a t s i n c e 1970, total o z o n e h a s d e c r e a s e d
b y 1.7 t o 3 p e r c e n t o v e r t h e l a t i t u d e s c o v e r i n g t h e
U n i t e d States, J a p a n , the Soviet U n i o n , a n d E u r o p e .
G i v e n o z o n e ' s role in s h i e l d i n g the E a r t h from
h a r m f u l ultraviolet radiation a n d controlling
stratospheric t e m p e r a t u r e , t h e s e findings h a v e
w o r l d w i d e h e a l t h a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l implications.
C o n c e r n o v e r t h e t h i n n i n g of t h e o z o n e layer h a s
sparked increased emphasis o n developing a n d
improving ozone measurement methods a n d
instruments. A c c u r a t e , reliable m e a s u r e m e n t s from
s p a c e , critical to t h e d e t e c t i o n of p r e d i c t e d o z o n e
trends, also w i l l f o r m a basis for a s s e s s m e n t of
potential effects a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of corrective
measures.
Percentage change in global ozone by month and latitude between
1980 and 1987, as measured by the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrome-
ter (TOMS) and corrected to ground observations of total ozone. The
red area at bottom represents the Antarctic ozone "hole."
Measuring Ozone
Via the SBUV Instrument...
O z o n e m o n i t o r i n g efforts of N A S A a n d N O A A rely
o n s p a c e - b a s e d Solar B a c k s c a t t e r U l t r a v i o l e t ( S B U V )
instruments, w h i c h m e a s u r e t h e total a m o u n t a n d
h e i g h t distribution of o z o n e in the u p p e r a t m o s -
p h e r e . T h e original S B U V instrument f l e w o n N A S A ' s
N i m b u s - 4 satellite, d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h e effectiveness
of t h e t e c h n i q u e . T h e S B U V instrument a b o a r d
N A S A ' s N i m b u s - 7 satellite p r o v i d e d a n 8-year data
set that w i l l b e c o n t i n u e d into t h e late 1990s b y the
S B U V / 2 a b o a r d N O A A ' s T I R O S satellites.
Ozone is derived from the SBUV/2 instrument from the ratio of ob-
served backscattered radiance (IX) to the solar irradiance (FX) in the
ultraviolet. This ratio is termed the ultraviolet albedo.
T h e S B U V instrument m e a s u r e s solar irradiance a n d
radiation b a c k s c a t t e r e d f r o m t h e Earth's a t m o s p h e r e
in 12 discrete w a v e l e n g t h c h a n n e l s in the ultraviolet.
S i n c e o z o n e a b s o r b s radiation in t h e ultraviolet
w a v e l e n g t h s , its a m o u n t c a n b e d e r i v e d f r o m t h e
rstlo of backscattered radiation to incident solar
radiation. V a r i a t i o n s in b a c k s c a t t e r e d radiation
indicate t h e vertical distribution of o z o n e in the
atmosphere.
T h e S B U V t e c h n i q u e has p r o v e n to b e a reliable
m e t h o d of m e a s u r i n g o z o n e a n d solar ultraviolet
irradiance. H o w e v e r , p r o b l e m s d o exist w i t h
calibration drift a n d instrument d e g r a d a t i o n o v e r
time. T h e extremely precise m e a s u r e m e n t s required
to a c c u r a t e l y m e a s u r e a n d m a p g l o b a l o z o n e a n d
solar irradiance m a k e the calibration q u e s t i o n a
critical o n e .
 The Shuttle An Issue of Global Ozone Change... Measuring Ozone
Via the SBUV Instrument...
r in late 1989, w i t h
3 h o u t t h e 1990s.
Solar Backscatter O z o n e d e p l e t i o n in t h e u p p e r a t m o s p h e r e is a n issue
of increasing c o n c e r n : O z o n e m o n i t o r i n g efforts of N A S A a n d N O A A rely
? c t t o data collection
Ultraviolet Experimen • In 1985, t h e British A n t a r c t i c S u r v e y a n n o u n c e d t h e
o n s p a c e - b a s e d Solar B a c k s c a t t e r U l t r a v i o l e t ( S B U V )
instruments, w h i c h m e a s u r e t h e total a m o u n t a n d
discovery of a n o z o n e 'hole' over Antarctica during the
h e i g h t distribution o f o z o n e in t h e u p p e r a t m o s -
hs c o i n c i d e n t with a u s t r a l s p r i n g t i m e . A s o f 1987, s e a s o n a l d e p l e t i o n w a s
p h e r e . T h e original S B U V instrument f l e w o n N A S A ' s
r
a t i o n until 1996 a s h i g h a s 6 0 p e r c e n t in s o m e a r e a s o v e r A n t a r c t i c a .
N i m b u s - 4 satellite, d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h e effectiveness

• In M a r c h 1988, t h e N A S A - l e d O z o n e T r e n d s Panel of t h e t e c h n i q u e . T h e S B U V instrument a b o a r d

Der S h u t t l e mission
r e p o r t e d t h a t s i n c e 1970, total o z o n e h a s d e c r e a s e d N A S A ' s N i m b u s - 7 satellite p r o v i d e d a n Q-ye^r data
3tion t o c o m p a r e w i t h b y 1.7 t o 3 p e r c e n t o v e r t h e l a t i t u d e s c o v e r i n g t h e set that w i l l b e c o n t i n u e d into t h e late 1990s b y t h e
icident measurements U n i t e d States, J a p a n , t h e Soviet U n i o n , a n d E u r o p e . S B U V / 2 a b o a r d N O A A ' s T I R O S satellites.
ments, e q u i v a l e n t to
/ations G i v e n o z o n e ' s role in s h i e l d i n g t h e E a r t h from
h a r m f u l ultraviolet radiation a n d controlling
cations... stratospheric t e m p e r a t u r e , t h e s e findings h a v e
w o r l d w i d e h e a l t h a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l implications.
Dgram represents a
y to e n h a n c e t h e C o n c e r n o v e r t h e t h i n n i n g of t h e o z o n e layer h a s
3-term e n v i r o n m e n - sparked i n c r e a s e d e m p h a s i s o n d e v e l o p i n g a n d
space-based improving ozone measurement methods a n d
gular observations instruments. A c c u r a t e , reliable m e a s u r e m e n t s f r o m
)ard t h e Shuttle also s p a c e , critical to t h e d e t e c t i o n o f p r e d i c t e d o z o n e
trends, also w i l l form a basis for a s s e s s m e n t of Ozone is derived from the SBUV/2 instrument from the ratio of ob-
potential effects a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of corrective served backscattered radiance (l\) to the solar irradiance (FX) in the
ultraviolet. This ratio is termed the ultraviolet albedo.
readings of global measures.
ination of trends a n d T h e S B U V instrument m e a s u r e s solar irradiance a n d
radiation backscattered from t h e Earth's a t m o s p h e r e
in 12 discrete w a v e l e n g t h c h a n n e l s in t h e ultraviolet.
o v e d m o d e l s of ozone S i n c e o z o n e a b s o r b s radiation in t h e ultraviolet
derstanding of ozone w a v e l e n g t h s , its a m o u n t c a n b e d e r i v e d from t h e
rdtlo of backscattered radiation to incident solar
radiation. Variations in backscattered radiation
e l o p m e n t of
indicate t h e vertical distribution o f o z o n e in t h e
•venting o r m i t i g a t i n g
atmosphere.
dation

T h e S B U V t e c h n i q u e h a s p r o v e n to b e a reliable
m e t h o d of m e a s u r i n g o z o n e a n d solar ultraviolet
/ program, contact: irradiance. H o w e v e r , p r o b l e m s d o exist w i t h
Investigator, J F M A M J J A S O N D calibration drift a n d instrument d e g r a d a t i o n o v e r
ibelt, Maryland 2 0 7 7 1 , MONTH
time. T h e extremely precise m e a s u r e m e n t s required
Percentage change in global ozone by month and latitude between to a c c u r a t e l y m e a s u r e a n d m a p g l o b a l o z o n e a n d
1980 and 1987, as measured by the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrome-
isphere Research RTH SCIENCE AMD APPLICATIONS DIVISION solar irradiance m a k e t h e calibration q u e s t i o n a
ter (TOMS) and corrected to ground observations of total ozone. The
;hington, D . C . 2 0 5 4 6 red area at bottom represents the Antarctic ozone "hole." critical o n e .
Solution to SBUV Calibration Drift.
T o solve data reliability p r o b l e m s resulting from
calibration drift, N A S A has d e v e l o p e d a n d tested the
S h u t t l e Solar B a c k s c a t t e r U l t r a v i o l e t ( S S B U V )
instrument. D u r i n g regular Shuttle flights, S B U V / 2
p e r f o r m a n c e c a n b e assessed by direct c o m p a r i s o n
of data from b o t h the S S B U V a n d S B U V / 2 instruments
v i e w i n g nearly the s a m e Earth location. W h e r e a s
previous calibration processes h a v e relied solely o n
g r o u n d - b a s e d reference standards a n d instruments,
this p r o c e d u r e w i l l permit calibration in s p a c e
s u p p l e m e n t e d by a rigorous p r o g r a m of laboratory
calibration before a n d after e a c h S S B U V flight.
Selected SSBUV and SBUV/2 orbit coincidences. A coincidence is de-
fined when observations over a given point can be taken by both
instruments within 60 minutes. These coincidences will occur 16 times
daily over the duration of the experiment. Numbers indicate the inter-
val (in minutes) between satellite observations.
The SSBUV Instrument. The SSBUV Payload. Maintaining S!
Like its S B U V / 2 c o m p a n i o n , the S S B U V consists of T h e n e e d for regular o b s e r v a t i o n s a b o a r d the T h e S S B U V experir
t w o 'A-meter Ebert-Fastie m o n o c h r o m a t o r s Shuttle required the S S B U V instrument to b e of laboratory a n d
arranged c o n s e c u t i v e l y to reject stray light f r o m t h e d e s i g n e d as largely self-supporting, n e e d i n g o n l y c a l i b r a t i o n systen
spectral field of m e a s u r e m e n t . A t the G o d d a r d S p a c e a f e w s i m p l e Shuttle interfaces. T h e result is a d e v e l o p e d by N A
Flight C e n t e r ( G S F C ) S S B U V facility, features w e r e virtual s t a n d - a l o n e experiment, m o u n t a b l e in r e s p o n s e from the
a d d e d to the S B U V / 2 p r o t o t y p e instrument to satisfy various locations w i t h i n t h e Shuttle bay. t h e t i m e it returns
Shuttle flight r e q u i r e m e n t s : a n d mercury lamp
T h e S S B U V instrument a n d its d e d i c a t e d
a n d performs on-t
• A transmission diffuser w a s installed to transmit electronics, p o w e r , data, a n d c o m m a n d systems
calibration c h e c k !
s u n l i g h t to t h e S S B U V s e n s o r m o d u l e are m o u n t e d into t w o canisters. T h e I n s t r u m e n t
c o m m a n d of the
C a n i s t e r holds the instrument a n d its specially
• Solar and nadir aspect sensors w e r e d e v e l o p e d to
d e s i g n e d a s p e c t sensors a n d in-flight calibration
m e a s u r e the S S B U V instrument's inclination t o w a r d the
system. A M o t o r i z e d D o o r A s s e m b l y ( M D A ) A special Calibrat
S u n a n d Earth during observation periods
o p e n s to a l l o w t h e S S B U V instrument to v i e w the G S F C to d e v e l o p s
• A n in-flight calibration system w a s d e v e l o p e d a n d S u n a n d Earth, a n d closes d u r i n g the in-flight a n d maintain a s
i n s t a l l e d to p e r f o r m S S B U V i n s t r u m e n t c a l i b r a t i o n calibration s e q u e n c e . T h e M D A also prevents capability (see flo\
c h e c k s a n d a c c o u n t for c a l i b r a t i o n drift c o n t a m i n a t i o n from t h e orbiter e n v i r o n m e n t . c o n t a i n s all t h e n
perform accurate
A flight microprocessor reformats all S S B U V data
instrument for t h e
a n d provides instrument control d u r i n g flight.
refurbished N i m b
Instrument functions are initially c o m m a n d e d by
w i l l b e u s e d as a lc
the Shuttle c r e w , t h e n s e q u e n c e d by the
b y tracking the rc
microprocessor t h r o u g h a b o u t 30 o p e r a t i n g
calibration of the
modes.
intercomparisons
T h e S u p p o r t C a n i s t e r , linked to the Instrument solar-ultraviolet ri
Canister by a single c a b l e , c o n t a i n s the p o w e r to b e f l o w n o n tl
system, data storage, a n d c o m m a n d d e c o d e r s .
T h e d e d i c a t e d p o w e r system c a n o p e r a t e the
Top view of the SSBUV instrument. The in-flight calibration system is S S B U V p a y l o a d for a total of a b o u t 40 hours.
situated in the center, surrounded by solar and nadir aspect sensors.
The red plate covers the instrument entrance aperture.

LABORATORY CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT S P A C E FLIGHT

AND S P A C E SIMULATIONS
A t c o i n c i d e n t a l orbit points, the S B U V / 2 a n d S S B U V
instruments w i l l m a k e correlative m e a s u r e m e n t s of PRE-FLIGHT
o z o n e p a r a m e t e r s . S S B U V data w i l l b e u s e d to assess CALIBRATION
MOTORIZED SSBUV SSBUV
the d e g r e e of calibration drift in the S B U V / 2 # DOOR MECHANISM STANDARDS
POST-FLIGHT
instrument. B a s e d o n these data, a n d o n g r o u n d - INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION
«* CANISTER
b a s e d m e a s u r e m e n t s , corrections to t h e S B U V / 2 data
will be made.

S S B U V m e a s u r e m e n t s w i l l also b e c o m p a r e d w i t h
m e a s u r e m e n t s from other solar radiation-measuring
J
SSBUV flight configuration: two canisters house the instrument and
LABORATORY
REFERENCE
INSTRUMENT
IN-FLIGHT
CALIBRATIONS
instruments a b o a r d the Shuttle a n d the U p p e r its support module. Each canister stands about 4 ft (1.2 m). The entire
A t m o s p h e r e R e s e a r c h Satellite [ U A R S J . configuration weighs about 1000 lbs (450 kg).
Solution to SBUV Calibration Drift.
T o solve data reliability p r o b l e m s resulting from
calibration drift, N A S A has d e v e l o p e d a n d tested the
S h u t t l e Solar B a c k s c a t t e r U l t r a v i o l e t ( S S B U V )
instrument. D u r i n g regular Shuttle flights, S B U V / 2
p e r f o r m a n c e c a n b e assessed by direct c o m p a r i s o n
of data from b o t h the S S B U V a n d S B U V / 2 instruments
v i e w i n g nearly the s a m e Earth location. W h e r e a s
previous calibration processes h a v e relied solely o n
g r o u n d - b a s e d reference s t a n d a r d s a n d instruments,
this p r o c e d u r e w i l l permit calibration in s p a c e
s u p p l e m e n t e d by a rigorous p r o g r a m of laboratory
calibration b e f o r e a n d after e a c h S S B U V flight.
Selected SSBUV and SBUV/2 orbit coincidences. A coincidence is de-
fined when observations over a given point can be taken by both
instruments within 60 minutes. These coincidences will occur 16 times
daily over the duration of the experiment. Numbers indicate the inter-
val (in minutes) between satellite observations.
A t c o i n c i d e n t a l orbit points, the S B U V / 2 a n d S S B U V
instruments w i l l m a k e correlative m e a s u r e m e n t s of
o z o n e p a r a m e t e r s . S S B U V data w i l l b e u s e d to assess
the d e g r e e of calibration drift in the S B U V / 2
instrument. B a s e d o n these data, a n d o n g r o u n d -
b a s e d m e a s u r e m e n t s , corrections to the S B U V / 2 data
will be made.
S S B U V m e a s u r e m e n t s w i l l also b e c o m p a r e d w i t h
m e a s u r e m e n t s from other solar radiation-measuring
instruments a b o a r d the Shuttle a n d t h e U p p e r
A t m o s p h e r e R e s e a r c h Satellite (UARS).
Maintaining SSBUV Calibration.
T h e S S B U V e x p e r i m e n t consists of a u n i q u e p r o g r a m
of laboratory a n d \n-orb\t calibration. A n in-flight
c a l i b r a t i o n s y s t e m , the first of its kind, has b e e n
d e v e l o p e d by N A S A to track S S B U V instrument
r e s p o n s e from the time it leaves the laboratory until
the time it returns. A n srrsy of h a l o g e n , d e u t e r i u m ,
a n d m e r c u r y l a m p s provides a stable U V light source,
a n d performs o n - b o a r d w a v e l e n g t h a n d radiometric
calibration checks. T h e s e l a m p s are a c t i v a t e d by
c o m m a n d of the M i s s i o n Specialist.
A special Calibration Facility has b e e n set u p at
G S F C to d e v e l o p a n d test t h e S S B U V instrument
a n d m a i n t a i n a state-of-the-art calibration
capability (see f l o w d i a g r a m b e l o w ) . This facility
c o n t a i n s all the necessary test e q u i p m e n t to
p e r f o r m a c c u r a t e a n d precise calibrations of the
instrument for the d u r a t i o n of the e x p e r i m e n t . A
refurbished N i m b u s - 7 S B U V E n g i n e e r i n g M o d e l
w i l l b e u s e d as a laboratory reference instrument
by tracking the radiometric s t a n d a r d s a n d
calibration of t h e flight instrument. Laboratory
i n t e r c o m p a r i s o n s w i l l b e p e r f o r m e d w i t h other
solar-ultraviolet r a d i a t i o n - m e a s u r i n g instruments
to b e f l o w n o n the Shuttle a n d U A R S .
S P A C E FLIGHT
Flow diagram of the SSBUV calibration
before, during, and after the SSBUV flight.
The process involves pre- and post-flight
SSBUV calibrations against a laboratory instru-
ment and radiometric standards de-
veloped by the National Institute of Stan-
dards and Technology (NIST, formerly the
National Bureau of Standards). On-board
calibration checks are conducted by the
SSBUV's own calibration system.
IN-FLIGHT
CALIBRATIONS
 Mission Requirements.
T h e first S S B U V flight w i l l o c c u r in late 1989, w i t h
regular flights s c h e d u l e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e 1990s.
M i s s i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s w i t h respect to data collection
are:

• S h u t t l e flights e v e r y 8-12 m o n t h s c o i n c i d e n t w i t h
N O A A S B U V / 2 i n s t r u m e n t o p e r a t i o n until 1996

• S o l a r v i e w d a t a a t least t w i c e p e r S h u t t l e m i s s i o n

• Earth v i e w data of sufficient d u r a t i o n to c o m p a r e w i t h

S B U V / 2 . This translates to 32 c o i n c i d e n t m e a s u r e m e n t s
w i t h S S B U V a n d S B U V / 2 i n s t r u m e n t s , e q u i v a l e n t to
a b o u t 16 h o u r s o f E a r t h o b s e r v a t i o n s

SSBUV Benefits and Applications...

I m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e S S B U V p r o g r a m represents a
major step forward in o u r ability to e n h a n c e t h e
reliability a n d integrity o f t h e long-term e n v i r o n m e n -
tal data sets o b t a i n e d t h r o u g h s p a c e - b a s e d
remote-sensing instruments. R e g u l a r o b s e r v a t i o n s
b y t h e S S B U V instrument o n b o a r d t h e Shuttle also
will:

• Provide m o r e accurate, reliable readings of g l o b a l

o z o n e , r e s u l t i n g in b e t t e r d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t r e n d s a n d
a surer b a s i s for p r o t e c t i v e a c t i o n s

• E n a b l e the d e v e l o p m e n t of improved m o d e l s of o z o n e
d y n a m i c s , a l l o w i n g a better u n d e r s t a n d i n g of o z o n e
c h a n g e a n d its c a u s e s

• S e r v e a s a n i m p e t u s to t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f
s p a c e - b a s e d a p p r o a c h e s to p r e v e n t i n g or m i t i g a t i n g
the effects of instrument d e g r a d a t i o n

For more information on the S S B U V program, contact:

Ernest Hilsenrath, S S B U V Principal Investigator,
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771,
or
Robert Watson, Chief, Upper Atmosphere Research
Program, N A S A Headquarters, Washington, D.C 20546