First-Principle Dynamic Electro-Thermal Numerical Model of a Scanning Radiometer for Earth Radiation Budget Applications

Earth Observing instruments that are used to monitor the incoming solar and outgoing longwave radiation from low-Earth orbit, have been a crucial part of studying the Earth's radiation budget during the past three decades. Instruments such as these go through several robust design phases followed by vigorous ground calibration campaigns to set their baseline characterization spectrally, spatially, temporally and radiometrically. The knowledge gained from building and calibrating these instruments has aided in technology advancements as the need for developing more accurate instruments has increased. In order to understand the instrument prelaunch performance, NASA Langley Research Center has partnered with the Thermal Radiation Group at Virginia Tech to develop a first-principle, dynamic electro-thermal, numerical model of a scanning radiometer that can be used to enhance the interpretation of an Earth radiation budget-like instrument on orbit. This contribution summarizes the current state of efforts to develop this high-fidelity end-to-end model and while highlighting its possible application to an Earth radiation budget instrument.