Total solar irradiance data record accuracy and consistency improvements

Continuity of the 33-year long total solar irradiance record has been facilitated by corrections for offsets due to calibration differences between instruments, providing a solar data record with precision approaching that needed for Earth climate studies. Recent laboratory tests have (1) improved measurement absolute accuracy to mitigate potential future data gaps, (2) helped explain the causes of instrument offsets and (3) improved consistency between the international references upon which various instrument calibrations are based.