EOS Validation Program

Institution: NOAA-CMDL R/E/C
                    325 Broadway
                    Boulder, Colorado 80303
Phone: (303) 497-6660
FAX: (303) 497-6290
E-mail: edutton@cmdl.noaa.gov

http://www.cmdl.noaa.gov
http://bsrn.ethz.ch (Baseline Surface Radiation network)
http://www.srrb.noaa.gov

Barry A. Bodhaine, NOAA/CMDL

June 2001
Final Report, January 2004

This is a proposal to acquire and provide ground-based solar and thermal radiation data along with related atmospheric state information to help validate CERES surface and atmospheric radiation budget (SARB) and other related EOS data products. The validation data will be from an existing network with seven sites in globally diverse and representative locations. Proposed are the augmentation of instrumentation, continued operation of the enhanced network, and the improved evaluation and preparation of the measurement results. The five sites to be addressed by this proposal are active contributors to the WCRP Baseline Surface Radiation Network. The existing and proposed observations include upward and downward solar and IR irradiances, direct solar beam, standard surface and upper air meteorological measurements, backscattering vertical profiles, digital sky imagery, and optical depth of aerosols, water vapor, ozone, and clouds. In addition to surface radiation budget and atmospheric state variables at the field sites, it is proposed to obtain spectral surface reflectance measurements from the top of a 300-m tower located in rural agricultural area. These spectral albedo measurements will contain information on bidirectional surface scattering. Only part of the cost of this network and its enhancements is to be borne by this proposal. This network is extensively supported by the NOAA Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory whose experienced personnel have internationally recognized expertise in network operation, detailed instrument calibration, and scientific analysis of surface radiation budget measurements. This proposal seeks funding for the costs of acquiring, processing, and providing the validation data.

Additional Information: Due to a reduced funding level for this investigation, and the apparent non-funding of two companion proposals, a portion of the work proposed, as outlined in the abstract above, will not be completed unless other funding is found. This relates to the observations of backscatter vertical profiles, the various optical depths determinations,spectral albedo, and the digital sky imagery. However, this does not impact the fundamental proposed effort to acquire process and make available the high-time-resolution long-term surface radiation budget components and other substantial ancillary data.

Further information on the NOAA/CMDL program can be found at http://www.cmdl.noaa.gov and the Web address for BSRN is bsrn.ethz.ch.