1
Figure 1.1. Map of BSRN sites.
Baseline Surface Radiation Network
Operations Manual
(Version 2.1)
1.0 Introduction
The determination of a global clim atology of the radiation budget at the surface of the Earth is
fundamental to understanding the Earth’s climate system, climate variability and climate change
resulting from human influence. Global estimates of the surface radiation budget cannot be inferred
reliably from satellite observations without high accuracy surface-based measurements at various
sites in contrasting climatic regions for calibration and validation. Long-term observations of the same
accuracy are also required to assess trends within climatic regions. Such measurements are
essential in assessing theoretical treatments of radiative transfer in the atmosphere, verifying climate
model computations, and for studying trends in surface radiation at scales smaller than normally
associated with climatic regions.
To meet these requirements, the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), jointly sponsored
by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Council of Scientific Unions
(ICSU) and the Intergovernm ental Oceanographic Com m ission (IOC) of UNESCO initiated (and is
organizing the im plementation of) the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN). The goal of this
network is to provide continuous, long-term, frequently sampled, state-of-the-art measurements of
surface radiation fluxes adhering to the highest achievable standards of measurement procedures,
calibration and accuracy. Many nations have expressed strong interest in participating in the BSRN
and a range of stations as diverse as the Arctic, mid-latitude forested and plain areas, high m ountain
regions, tropical rainforest, desert, tropical islands have been established or are in the process of
being installed. Figure 1.1 and Table 1.1 provide a list of locations of operating and potential BSRN
stations. A continuously updated listing of sites can be found on the BSRN Archive website
www.ethz.ch.
The operation of each station, or group of stations, is managed by a qualified scientist who has
expertise in the measurement of radiation. Some sites have been specifically established for making
measurem ents to determine local climate trends and provide accurate ground-truth for satellite
observations. Other sites have been observing radiation components for years, but have been
enhanced to meet the accuracy and resolution objectives of the BSRN. Some sites were made part
of the BSRN because of their importance with respect to climate or geography although they did not
fully conform to the standards set out by the BSRN at the tim e. These observatories were given until
1997 to upgrade to meet the specifications as originally adopted and then set forth in the
Manymanuals.com
Manymanuals.de
Manymanuals.fr
Manymanuals.it
Manymanuals.pl
Manymanuals.cz
Manymanuals.es
Manymanuals-pt.com
Komentáře k této Příručce