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A method for making accurate and precise measurements of small angles is described using an interferometer and a test fixture with reference control surfaces. The test is relatively insensitive to test fixture alignment. Typical measurement uncertainties are better than 0.2 arcsec ( 1 σ ). This technique is applicable for verifying the angular stability of opto-mechanical systems that must undergo rigorous environmental testing.

The Visible/Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is a key sensor on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite as well as the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). Emissive band calibration in the 3.7 to 12.5 μm wavelength is performed based on spectral emittance of a blackbody. This paper presents the results of the optical characterization for two builds for JPSS J3 and J4, of the VIIRS blackbody. This characterization is a combination of measurement and analysis.

Dissolved Ba concentrations in the inner shelf waters of the South Atlantic Bight (SAB) are two- to three-fold enriched in Ba when compared to Atlantic surface water. We determined that river input could account for about 25% of the observed enrichment. However, salty groundwaters are enriched in Ba by as much as an order of magnitude over calculated river water endmembers. The resultant input of Ba to the coastal environment, via enriched groundwater, is the likely source for the observed Ba enrichment on the inner shelf. The flux of Ba from the inner shelf to the ocean is 70 × 103 moles per day. The flux of Ba reaching the inner shelf from salty groundwaters ranges from 25 to 100 × 103 moles of Ba per day. Groundwater input of Ba appears to be much more important than river input for the Southeastern coast of the US.