Numerical evaluation of the multiple-pair method of calculating temperature from a measured continuous spectrum

When a measured spectrum is digitized and stored in the computer's memory, many pixel pairs can be used for color temperature evaluation. Although calculated color temperature for an individual pair can oscillate a lot, the average color temperature tends to be quite accurate if enough pairs (50–100) are used. The sensitivity of calculated mean color temperature to noise and linear variation of emissivity (as a function of wavelength) are described. It was found that the influence of noise is much greater than that of emissivity variations.