General Information

Serial #

8382D1

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

metal sensor with double glass bubble/ metal casing, frame and parts/ synthetic wire covering/ liquid spirit in glass & metal level housing

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

16.5 cm

Width

13.5 cm

Height

N/A

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Meteorology

Category

Sunshine intensity & duration measurement

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

EPLAB

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Rhode Island

City

Newport

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Unknown

Period

1967+; this instrument was apparently in use for 40 years (Ref. 9)

Canada

An example of a solar radiation measuring instrument of a type used by the Canadian Meteorological Service. The Eppley 50-K and Model 2 pyranometers, the Eppley Precision Spectral Pyranometer (PSP) and Precision Infrared Pyrgeometer (PIR) were all radiation instruments used to measure solar radiation at Canadian observing stations between 1970 and 1994 (Refs. 6-7). This model is not mentioned in the MSC literature available. Part of a large collection of meteorological instruments acquired from the Meteorological Service of Canada (previously Atmospheric Environment Service) by the CSTM since 1967. MSC is the government agency responsible for collecting and disseminating meteorological data and forecasts in Canada. It was founded in 1871 in Toronto where it is still headquartered. The MSC was originally on the University of Toronto downtown campus but moved to Downsview in 1971 on land owned by UofT. The headquarters houses laboratories, research facilities and calibration and instrument maintenance facilities (now largely contracted out).

Function

An instrument designed to measure global solar radiation (RF1), the total incoming short-wave radiation from the whole dome of the sky, as received on a flat, horizontally mounted thermopile sensor (Ref. 2)

Technical

An Eppley horizontal surface pyranometer with a levelling base. It has a double glass dome protecting the sensor which consists of flat concentric rings, one ring silver, the inner one blackened. The double clear domes reduce the temperature variations between the sensor and its reference (Ref. 1). The model 15 appears to be another, possibly earlier, version of the1990's to present Eppley PSP (Precision Spectrum Pyranometer) (see. Refs. 2-3). According to the manufacturer, this instrument (SN 8382D1) was supplied in 1967 (Ref. 4). Virtually all the energy available on the earth is dependant upon the energy received from the sun. The sun's output has varied by only 0.1% in recent times. Hence it is a source of very constant energy. This radiation arrives mostly in the form of visible radiation which peaks at the green 0.6 mm wavelength. Some of this radiation is lost by reflection from clouds or dust, and some by reradiation from the atmosphere. There is a delicate balance between gains and losses. A slight imbalance can shift the earth into an ice age or into runaway climate warming. For this reason alone it is necessary to monitor radiation. Solar radiation is the visible radiation from the sun with wavelengths from 0.3 mm (micrometres) (violet) to 0.9 mm (red). Global solar radiation (Radiation Field 1 or RF1) measurements are made using pyranometers at sites in the radiation network. This is a measurement of all the incoming solar radiation and comprises the bulk of radiation measurements in the radiation network of 43 stations as of 2002. The RF-1 instruments use a shrouded AES designed ventilator which prevents precipitation from landing on the sensor and reduces the collection of dirt on the domes (Ref. 1).

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

silver lettering on red plate reads 'EPPLEY PYRHELIOMETER/ TYPE HORIZONTAL SURFACE/ MODEL 15 NO. 8382D1/ THIS RADIOMETER HAS BEEN COMPARED WITH THE EPPLEY GROUP/ OF REFERENCE STANDARDS. THE DERIVED VALUE OF THE CON-/ STANT FOR THIS INSTRUMENT IS:/ 5.10 MILLIVOLTS /CAL. CM. -2 MIN.-1 (INT.)/ THE EPPLEY LABORATORY, INC./ NEWPORT, R.I./ MADE IN U.S.A.'/ white AES label with black lettering reading '6660-300 8382D1/ [bar code]/ *5257-00095* ARQX'/

Missing

shield (see 2004.0338)

Finish

black and silver sensor/ yellow transparent glass/ metallic casing, frame and parts/ white synthetic

Decoration

N/A