New NIST facility to boost remote-sensing accuracy

17 Jun 2002

The new National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Facility for Advanced Radiometric Calibration (FARCAL) will improve accuracy of remote-sensing instruments used in global warming and climate research. The plant also will be used for defense, industrial, and resource management sensing systems.

The facility arises from a NASA request for assessing the reliability and comparability of measurements made with a number of different radiometers used on Earth-surveying satellites. Radiometers measure subtle changes in light, mostly in the infrared and visible regions, and are also used in aircraft, ships, and buoys to determine temperatures and the presence of elements or chemical reactions. In addition to calibration functions, FARCAL will be used for exercises and workshops for manufacturers and users.