Earth Radiation Budget (ERB) instruments that are used to measure the incoming solar and outgoing longwave radiation have been a crucial part of studying the Earth's radiation balance. Over the years, the science community has made considerable advancements in making these measurements more accurate with the help of modeling tools that allow for on-ground parametric analysis. Therefore, in order to understand and characterize the instrument’s complex design, NASA Langley Research Center has partnered up with the Thermal Radiation Group of Virginia Tech to develop a complete end-to-end modeling tool that aims to enhance the interpretation of an Earth radiation budget-like instrument on orbit. This is a complete end-to-end, first-principle, dynamic, electro-thermal numerical model for a generic scanning radiometer that starts with photons arriving at the entrance aperture of the instrument to reading the data out as digital counts. This modeling tool accounts for the different subcomponents of the instrument, such as on-board calibration targets, optical module, detector elements, and signal conditioning electronics. This end-to-end model will help understand the science data stream output and help the science and the engineering community in quantifying any anomalous effects and uncertainties that arise from unknown knowledge of system parameters.

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Anum Ashraf, Kory J. Priestley, and James R. Mahan, "Numerical modeling for Earth radiation budget instruments (Conference Presentation)," Proc. SPIE 10764, Earth Observing Systems XXIII, 107640S (Presented at SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications: August 22, 2018; Published: 18 September 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2319613.5836659095001.