The goals of this plan were to collect and to archive spectral solar radiation, broadband solar radiation, and meteorological data for a range of air masses and atmospheric conditions from various collector configurations. To properly document the spectra, it is important to measure or characterize these variables. Measured with balloon radiosonde on-site or at a nearby National Weather Service station. Barometric pressure is Measured with a barometer. At least one of these options is used for each variable to document atmospheric conditions during the spectral solar radiation measurements.
Redundant information is used for quality-control checks.
The spectral solar radiation measurements were made in several different measurement modes corresponding to solar collector configurations. Table 3-1 lists the data collected to calculate or specify the atmospheric conditions and properly document each spectrum in the data base. The broadband solar radiation data were measured to correspond with the different spectroradiometer measurement modes and to calculate atmospheric descriptors, such as Kt. Wind speed and ambient temperature were recorded because they may be useful, along with the spectral data, to predict collector performance. The broadband and meteorological sensors were maintained and calibrated by the measurement sites as documented in Section 5 .