Photometer

Photometer at KIT Campus North
Fig. 1: Permanently installed photometer at KIT Campus North.
KITcube photometer in operation
Fig. 2: KITcube photometer in operation.

KITcube operates two photometer, which are part of the worldwide AERONET measurement network. One device is permanently installed at KIT Campus North (Fig. 1). The other photometer is part of the mobile KITcube system and operated during the campaigns (Fig. 2). Photometer trace the sun or the moon depending on the mode. The movement is driven by electrical motors for azimuth and zenith. The aerosoloptic density can be derived from irradiation measurements of the light source (sun or moon) for certain wavelengths. With the help of polarization filters, more information about the aerosol properties can be obtained.

Measurement example

The following plot shows the aerosoloptic density measured on 1st August 2014 during the DESERVE campaign in Masada, Israel.