Portable monitor for solar radiation that accumulates irradiance histograms for 32 leaf-mounted sensors

• Published in: Agricultural and forest meteorology Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 281 - 290
• Main Authors: Gutschick, Vincent P., Barron, Michael H., Waechter, David A., Wolf, Michael A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.1985; Oxford Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Agricultural and forest climatology and meteorology. Irrigation. Drainage; Agricultural and forest meteorology; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agronomy. Plant production; Generalities, techniques; Generalities. Techniques. Climatology. Meteorology. Climatic models of plant production; Meteorology; Radiative transfer. Solar radiation; Measuring instrument; Irradiance; Solar radiation; Vegetation
• ISSN: 0168-1923; 1873-2240
• DOI: 10.1016/0168-1923(85)90028-0

A novel and inexpensive instrument to monitor solar radiation interception at up to 32 locations simultaneously is described. It employs small-area, lightweight sensors that are leaf-mountable and have very good spectral and angular responses. A portable computer readily controls fast data acquisition and in-field processing to histograms, which are the most general irradiance measures to relate to nonlinear plant responses such as photosynthesis. Two field tests verified the instrument's reliability and operational convenience, and also directly compared radiation interception at space-fixed locations vs. nearby leaves. A number of new physiological and canopy-model tests that the instrument makes possible are described. The monitor is constructed from standard electronic components and may be readily modified for many expanded capabilities.