Science Highlights and Final Updates from 17 Years of Total Solar Irradiance Measurements from the SOlar Radiation and Climate Experiment/Total Irradiance Monitor (SORCE/TIM)

Abstract

The final version (V.19) of the total solar irradiance data from the SOlar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) Total Irradiance Monitor has been released. This version includes all calibrations updated to the end of the mission and provides irradiance data from 25 February 2003 through 25 February 2020. These final calibrations are presented along with the resulting final data products. An overview of the on-orbit operations timeline is provided as well as the associated changes in the time-dependent uncertainties. Scientific highlights from the instrument are also presented. These include the establishment of a new, lower TSI value; accuracy improvements to other TSI instruments via a new calibration facility; the lowest on-orbit noise (for high sensitivity to solar variability) of any TSI instrument; the best inherent stability of any on-orbit TSI instrument; a lengthy (17-year) measurement record benefitting from these stable, low-noise measurements; the first reported detection of a solar flare in TSI; and observations of two Venus transits and four Mercury transits.