Calibration at Izaña station of 100 TENUM Calitoo sun-photometers involved in WMO-Measurement Lead Centre (MLC) program
From 4 to 11 August 2026, one hundred Calitoo sun photometers were calibrated at the Izaña Atmospheric Research Center – Emilio Cuevas (IARC–Emilio Cuevas), operated by the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), as part of the World Meteorological Organization Measurement Lead Centre (WMO-MLC) programme for Aerosols and Water Vapour Remote Sensing Instruments.
Calitoo sun photometers are used within the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) programme, a worldwide hands-on science and education initiative that involves primary and secondary schools in environmental observations.
After manufacture, sun photometers need to be periodically calibrated to ensure the quality and reliability of their measurements of aerosol optical depth (AOD), an important parameter for characterizing atmospheric aerosols.
The excellent calibration conditions at the IARC-Emilio Cuevas have once again provided an ideal environment for this activity. This is the fifth calibration campaign of Calitoo sun photometers carried out at Izaña, following previous campaigns in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2024.
The calibration of these instruments at Izaña contributes to improving the quality and consistency of aerosol observations collected by schools participating in the GLOBE programme worldwide.
TENUM Calitoo activities at IARC-Emilio Cuevas: preparations and measurements for calibration performed by Frederic Bouchar (TENUM), Stéphane Villeneuve (TENUM) and África Barreto (CIAI-Emilio Cuevas, AEMET).
