U.S. Integrated Surface Irradiance Study (ISIS) Level 2 (SURFRAD) (DSI-9872)
Entry ID:
gov.noaa.ncdc.C00540
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Summary
Abstract:
U.S. Integrated Surface Irradiance Study (ISIS) Level 2 (SURFRAD) is digital data set DSI-9872, archived at the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).ISIS is a continuation of earlier National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) surface-based solar monitoring programs. ISIS provides basic surface radiation data with repeatability, ... consistency, and accuracy based on reference standards maintained at levels better than 1%.
ISIS addresses questions of spatial distributions and time trends at sites selected to be
regionally representative and long-term continuous records of observations. The Air Resources
Laboratory (ARL) operates the NOAA national broadband solar radiation network, collecting data
in both the visible and ultraviolet (UV-B) wavebands. ISIS operates at two levels: Level 1
stations are basic, monitoring incoming radiation only. Level 2 stations are more fully
instrumented, focusing on surface radiation balance. Level 2 stations form the SURface
RADiation Budget Network (SURFRAD) of stations.SURFRAD stations operate in the United States
of America. Fifteen stations are planned. At this writing, NCDC has data in archive from 6
stations in climatologically diverse regions: Fort Peck, Montana; Boulder, Colorado;Bondville,
Illinois; Goodwin Creek, Mississippi; Penn State, Pennsylvania; and Desert Rock, Nevada; from
1995 onward. Radiation measurements at SURFRAD stations cover the range of the
electro-magnetic spectrum that affects the earth/atmosphere system. Global solar and its
components are measured separately. Total downwelling (global) solar radiation is measured on
the main platform by an upward looking broadband pyranometer. The direct component is
monitored with a normal incidence pyrheliometer (or NIP) mounted on an automatic sun tracker,
and the diffuse component is measured by a shaded pyranometer that rides on the solar tracker.
Diffuse solar was not in the original suite of SURFRAD measurements. The shaded pyranometer
was added in 1996 when a support platform with a shade arm mechanism was fitted to the
trackers. A third pyranometer is mounted facing downward on a crossarm near the top of the
10-meter tower to measure solar radiation reflected from the surface. An upward looking
pyrgeometer on the main platform measures long wave (thermal infrared) radiation emitted
downward by clouds and other atmospheric constituents. Another pyrgeometer, mounted facing
downward on the crossarm atop the tower, senses upwelling long wave radiation. These
measurements of upwelling and downwelling in the solar and infrared wavebands constitute the
complete surface radiation budget. Besides the surface radiation budget, other ancillary
parameters are monitored. There are two instruments on the main platform that monitor
wavebands of special interest. A UVB radiometer measures the degree of harmful ultraviolet
radiation (290-320 nm) that evades the ozone layer and reaches the surface. Another instrument
monitors the intensity of the waveband active in photosynthesis (400 to 700 nm). The final
radiometer in the SURFRAD suite is the Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR)
which measures both global and diffuse solar radiation in one broadband and six narrow bands
of the solar spectrum. These are useful for obtaining aerosol loading information. Instruments
for measuring wind speed and direction, air temperature, and relative humidity also reside at
the top of the 10-meter tower. A barometer in the data logger box measures station pressure.
The redundancy of three component solar measurements (global, direct and diffuse) provides a
useful tool for quality control of the SURFRAD data. In addition, the sum of the diffuse and
direct is actually a better measure of total solar than the global measurement alone because
when the sun is near the horizon, a change in the cosine response of the global pyranometers
sensor introduces errors in the global measurement. Level 2 major parameters are: global and
direct beam irradiance, UV-B global irradiance, downwelling and upwelling thermal infrared,
radiation active in photosynthesis, net solar (global-UPGBL), net infrared (IR-UPIR), net
radiation (NETSOLAR+NETIR), temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, station
pressure, and solar zenith angle. The SURFRAD program has close ties with scientists at the
University of Maryland; Pennsylvania State University; National Environmental Satellite, Data,
and Information Services (NESDIS); the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)
Office of Field Project Support; the GCIP project; the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); and
Unidata. SURFRAD is also part of the world-wide Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN).
Operationally, SURFRAD has the cooperation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the
Fort Peck Tribes of Montana, Pennsylvania State University, and the Illinois State Water
Survey.Observations from SURFRAD have been used for evaluating satellite-based estimates of
surface radiation and for validating hydrology, weather prediction, and climate models. 
Purpose:
To make a wide range of climatic data available to researchers and the public.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: data set CURRENTNESS REFERENCE: Ground Condition
Related URL
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Description:
View Source Metadata document from the Metadata Manager and Repository
(NMMR).
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Geographic Coverage
(Click for Interactive Map)
Spatial coordinates
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N: 49.0
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S: 30.0
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E: -74.0
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W: -120.0
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Data Set Citation
Dataset Originator/Creator:
National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Dataset Title:
U.S. Integrated Surface Irradiance Study (ISIS) Level 2 (SURFRAD) (DSI-9872)
Dataset Release Date:
Unknown
Data Presentation Form:
tabular digital data
Online Resource:
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov
Quality
ATTRIBUTE ACCURACY REPORT: Not provided LOGICAL CONSISTENCY REPORT: Unknown COMPLETENESS
REPORT: Completeness information not available. LINEAGE/PROCESS STEP: PROCESS DESCRIPTION:
Unknown PROCESS DATE: Unknown
Access Constraints
ACCESS CONSTRAINTS: None DISTRIBUTION LIABILITY: Every effort has been made
to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of current NOAA quality
control procedures. NOAA can only certify that the data provided to its customers is an
authentic copy of the records which were accepted for inclusion in NOAA archives. NOAA cannot
assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result
of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed
or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
Use Constraints
None
Data Set Progress
COMPLETE
Personnel
Role:
DIF AUTHOR
Phone:
828-271-4800
Fax:
828-271-4876
Email:
ncdc.orders at noaa.gov
Contact Address:
151 Patton Avenue, Room 120
City:
Asheville
Province or State:
NC
Postal Code:
28801-5001
Country:
USA
Extended Metadata Properties
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Creation and Review Dates
DIF Creation Date:
2006-06-27
Last DIF Revision Date:
2012-11-29
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