An irradiance profile measurement approach and profiling system were developed to measure the solar irradiance profile of the Arctic sea ice using fiber optic spectrometry. The approach involved using a miniature spectrometer to sense light signals collected and transmitted from a fiber probe. The fiber probe was small, and could thus move freely in inclined bore holes drilled in sea ice with its optical entrance pointing upward. The input-output relationship of the system was analyzed and built. Influence factors that determined the system output were analyzed. A correctional system output approach was proposed to correct the influence of these factors, and to obtain the solar irradiance profile based on the measurements outputted by this system. The overall performance of the system was examined in two ice floes in the Arctic during the 9th Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition. The measured solar irradiance profiles were in good agreement with those obtained using other commercially available oceanographic radiometers. The derived apparent optical properties of sea ice were comparable to those of similar sea ice measured by other optical instruments.

solar irradiance; profile; sea ice; fiber optic spectrometry; inclined hole

Zhejiang University; Ocean University of China