Local Signal Impedes the Definition of the Cosmic Infrared Background

It was noted (ApJ 508</u>, 44, 1998) when developing a COBE/DIRBE-data-based model for the infrared (IR) signal from the interplanetary dust cloud (IPD) that there were clear evidences of unexpected time-variable wavelength-dependent signals in all the ten DIRBE bands (1.2 to 240 μm). The amplitudes of these signals range in magnitude from the order of one-half to a few percent of the respective-wavelength IPD signal. This presentation provides selected details on the nature of these signals as regards their wavelength-dependent periodicities, time-variable amplitudes, and complex spatial configurations. Particular attention is devoted to describing the consequences imposed by these signals which impede the observational determination of and/or the setting of limits on the cosmic IR background.