NPL — National Physical Laboratory

Snapshot

Why it matters internationally

NPL is the United Kingdom’s national metrology institute, and it anchors emissivity in the international comparison infrastructure: NPL is a documented participant in the CCT Supplementary Comparison S1 of infrared spectral normal emissivity (2–14 µm, 23–800 °C) alongside PTB, NIST, and NMIJ. Comparisons of this kind are what make emissivity values measured in different countries mutually trustworthy.

Scope of activity

Radiative properties measured

Infrared spectral normal emissivity · radiation thermometry · land-surface temperature and emissivity.

Capability envelope

• CCT-S1 comparison scope: spectral normal emissivity, 2–14 µm, 23–800 °C.
• Earth observation: laboratory calibration and field measurement of land-surface temperature and emissivity, linking laboratory radiometry to satellite retrieval.

Application domains

Non-contact thermometry · Earth observation and climate measurement · radiometric calibration and standards.

External sources

• Why is emissivity important? — NPL
• CCT-S1 final report — Metrologia (PMC)
• Land-surface temperature and emissivity — NPL eprints