Abstract
The Naval Research Laboratory flew solar X-ray ionization chamber detectors on a series of Solar Radiation (SOLRAD) satellites from 1960 through 1979. The flare responses of the SOLRAD 11 detectors are compared with those of the similar NOAA SMS/GOES detectors during two periods of common observations. The nominal GOES fluxes exceed those of SOLRAD 11 by a factor of ≈ 1.5–2 in the 0.5–4 Å band, but fall below those of SOLRAD by a factor of ≈ 2–4 in the 1–8 Å band. Significant passband differences account for these relationships between the detector responses. Since the X-ray detectors are standardized among the various SOLRAD satellites, and all detectors are closely matched among the various SMS/GOES satellites, these conversion factors allow the SOLRAD flare observations to serve as proxies for GOES X-ray observations prior to the GOES era. We summarize the detector characteristics and data sources of the 0.5–3 Å and 1–8 Å detectors for the SOLRAD series.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acton, L. W., Kreplin, R. W., Chubb, T. A., and Meekins, J. F.: 1963, J. Geophys. Res. 68, 3335.
Antalová, A.: 1987, Contr. Astron. Obs. Skalnate Pleso 16, 79.
Antalová, A.: 1988, Contr. Astron. Obs. Skalnate Pleso 17, 301.
Bevington, P. R.: 1969, Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Bouwer, S. D., Donnelly, R. F., Falcon, J., Quintana, A., and Caldwell, G.: 1982, NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL SEL-62, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado.
Cane, H. V. and Reames, D. V.: 1988, Astrophys. J. 325, 895.
Chubb, T. A., Friedman, H., Kreplin, R. W., Nichols, W. A., Unzicker, A. E., and Votaw, M. J.: 1961, in H. C. van de Hulst, C. de Jager, and A. F. Moore (eds.) Space Research II, North-Holland, Amsterdam, p. 617.
Data Catalog Series for Space Science and Applications Flight Missions: 1983, R. Horowitz and J. E. Johnson (eds.), Vol. 3A, National Space Sciences Data Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.
Data Catalog Series for Space Science and Applications Flight Missions: 1986, R. Horowitz and J. E. Johnson (eds.), Vol. 3B, National Space Sciences Data Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.
Data Catalog Series for Space Science and Applications Flight Missions: 1988, S. J. Kim (ed.), Vols. 5A and 5B, National Space Sciences Data Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.
Denton, R. E. and Feldman, U.: 1984, Astrophys. J. 286, 359.
Dere, K. P.: 1974, Corrections to Solar Soft X-ray Flux Values, unpublished note.
Dere, K. P., Horan, D. M., and Kreplin, R. W.: 1974, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 36, 989.
Donnelly, R. F.: 1981, NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL SEL-56, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado.
Donnelly, R. F. and Bouwer, S. D.: 1981, NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL SEL-57, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado.
Donnelly, R. F., Grubb, R. N., and Cowley, F. C: 1977, NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL SEL-48, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado.
Garcia, H. A.: 1990, Solar Phys. 127, 185.
Gregory, B. N. and Kreplin, R. W.: 1961, J. Geophys. Res. 72, 4815.
Horan, D. M. and Kreplin, R. W.: 1972, NRL Report 7408, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C.
Horan, D. M., Kreplin, R. W., and Dere, K. P.: 1982, NRL Memorandum Report 4959, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.
Kahler, S. W.: 1982, J. Geophys. Res. 87, 3439.
Kreplin, R. W.: 1965, in D. G. King-Hele, P. Muller, and G. Righini (eds.), Space Research V, Vol. 2, North-Holland, Amsterdam, p. 951.
Kreplin, R. W.: 1966, unpublished report.
Kreplin, R. W. and Horan, D. M.: 1969, NRL Report 6800, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.
Kreplin, R. W. and Taylor, R. G.: 1971, Solar Phys. 21, 452.
Kreplin, R. W., Chubb, T. A., and Friedman, H.: 1962, J. Geophys. Res. 67, 2231.
Kreplin, R. W., Horan, D. M., Chubb, T. A., and Friedman, H.: 1969, Solar Flares and Space Research, North-Holland, Amsterdam, p. 121.
Kreplin, R. W., Dere, K. P., Horan, D. M., and Meekins, J. F.: 1977, in O. R. White (ed.), The Solar Output and Its Variations, Colorado Associated University Press, Boulder, Colorado, p. 287.
Landini, M., Monsignori-Fossi, B. C., Poletto, G., Russo, F., and Tagliaferri, G. L.: 1969, Osservazioni e Memorie del' Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri 92.
Landini, M., Monsignori-Fossi, B. C., Poletto, G., Russo, F., and Tagliaferri, G. L.: 1970, Osservazioni e Memorie del' Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri 94.
Landscheidt, F.: 1986, Solar Phys. 107, 195.
Letfus, V.: 1972, Bull. Astron. Inst. Czech. 23, 223.
Meekins, J. F., Unzicker, A. E., Dere, K. P., and Kreplin, R. W.: 1974, NRL Report 7698, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.
Rieger, E., Share, G. H., Forrest, D. J., Kanbach, G., Reppin, C, and Chupp, E. L: 1984, Nature 312, 623.
Solar-Geophysical Data: 1964–1974, U.S. Department of Commerce, Boulder, Colorado.
Spangler, S. R. and Shawhan, S. D.: 1974, Solar Phys. 37, 189.
Starr, R., Heindl, W. A., Crannell, C. J., Thomas, R. J., Batchelor, D. A., and Magun, A.: 1988, Astrophys. J. 329, 967.
Thomas, R. J., Starr, R., and Crannell, C. J.: 1985, Solar Phys. 95, 323.
Unzicker, A. and Donnelly, R. F.: 1974, NOAA Technical Report ERL 310-SEL 31, NOAA, Boulder, Colorado.
Wende, C. D.: 1972, Solar Phys. 22, 492.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kahler, S.W., Kreplin, R.W. The NRL SOLRAD X-ray detectors: A summary of the observations and a comparison with the SMS/GOES detectors. Sol Phys 133, 371–384 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00149895
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00149895