Sun photometer

The aerosol optical depth (AOD) is measured in Chacaltaya with a CIMEL Sun Photometer belonging to the AERONET network. The AOD is the measure of aerosols distributed within a column of air from the instrument (Earth's surface) to the top of the atmosphere.  After some pilot campaigns at the observatory in 2006, 2015 and 2018, the CIMEL sun photometer started continuous operations in 2020.

The AOD is measured at 440, 670, 870 and 1020 nm wavelengths. Given that at least two appropriated spectral intervals are measured, aside AOD, other atmospheric variables can be derived, such as water vapor, ozone, etc. The instrument is calibrated regularly following the network's procedures.

CIMEL data is sent in near real time to the AERONET server, where AOD and other data products are available.

Contact person: Fabricio Avila

CIMEL sun photometer (Credits WEC), 2023