Calibration and Characterization Services

We recommend that optical channels be calibrated annually.  All other sensors should only need to be recalibrated when there is an indication that they have drifted or are otherwise operating improperly.

BSI offers a variety of calibration and characterization services:

• Optical channel calibration

• Temperature sensor calibration

• Pressure sensor calibration

• Inclinometer (pitch and roll) sensor calibration

• Cosine collector response characterization (wet and dry)

• Spectral characterization of radiometers

Note:  GUV radiometers are also available to be used for field intercomparisons with GUVs that are part of monitoring programs.  Related services include processing intercomparison data and issuing calibration reports. This is provided as an alternative to returning a field GUV to BSI for recalibration.

Biospherical Instruments Inc. has a long history calibrating and characterizing optical instruments -- hundreds of instruments annually.  A full-time optical engineer is in charge of the calibration laboratory and oversees all calibrations.  These include single channel broad-band (PAR) sensors, multi-channel ocean color radiometers, and high-resolution scanning UV spectroradiometers.  Our 40-m² calibration facility is fully equipped to perform a variety of radiometric measurements.  A partial list of available services includes irradiance and radiance calibrations using NIST traceable Standards of Spectral Irradiance for lamp-based calibrations; cosine characterization; in-water cosine characterization; spectral response characterization; immersion coefficient determination; linearity testing; and slit-width function determination.  In addition to our calibration laboratory, we maintain a solar calibration facility on the roof of our building.  We are regular participants in NASA and NSF sponsored calibration intercomparisons whose results are published in agency technical bulletins.

BSI custom-made instrumentation provides a high-purity, variable wavelength light source for spectral response characterizations.

Instructions for returning instruments to BSI