Development and operation of the Hemispherical Blackbody (HSBB) for the calibration of infrared radiometers with a hemispherical acceptance angle

Longwave downward radiation measurements are fundamental for investigating the surface and atmospheric energy budget of the Earth. Such measurements are performed using broadband infrared radiometers that have a hemispherical acceptance angle. A new hemispherical reference blackbody has been developed to provide a new traceability path of longwave downward radiation measurements to the SI. The Hemispherical Blackbody (HSBB) was specifically designed to meet the large opening angle of radiometers used for measuring longwave downward radiation. The first step was to find a suitable design candidate for the HSBB by simulating the effective emissivity using the Monte Carlo ray-tracing software STEEP. The most promising candidate was then realized in two versions with similar coatings and both versions were taken into operation.