Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN)

About BSRN:

Because of the important role radiation plays in the climate system, the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) was established to provide a worldwide network to continuously measure radiative fluxes at the Earth's surface. Many of these stations began operation in 1992 and each year more stations are added to the network. These stations provide data for the calibration of the GEWEX Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) Project and other satellite-based measurements of radiative fluxes. BSRN data are also used to validate radiative flux models.

About 40 stations in contrasting climatic zones, covering a latitude range from 80°N to 90°S (see station maps) are providing data to the BSRN archive located at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) in Bremerhaven, Germany. In 2004, BSRN was designated as the global surface radiation network for the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). The BSRN stations also contribute to the Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW).

• Monitor the background shortwave and longwave radiative components (least influenced by immediate human activities which are regionally concentrated) and their changes with the best methods currently available.
• Provide data for the calibration of satellite-based estimates of the surface radiative fluxes.
• Produce high quality observational data to be used for validating the theoretical computations of radiative fluxes by models.

BSRN Meeting Reports

• BSRN-10 Report
• BSRN-11 Report

• Listing of Participants
• Meeting Agenda (with hyperlinks to presentations)
• Group Photo
  
• Workshop summary report in May 2010 issue of GEWEX News
• BSRN-11 Report

BSRN Points of Contact

BSRN Project Manager
Dr. Ellsworth G. Dutton
NOAA/GMD
Boulder, Colorado, USA

BSRN Science Chair
Dr. Christian Kummerow
Colorado State University
Ft. Collins, Colorado