NOAA Baseline Surface Radiation Network Solar Measurements

DSI 9873 is a subset of the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) solar radiation data monitored by the NOAA ESRL Global Radiation group. The data originates from a network of baseline monitoring stations, including Barrow, Mauna Loa, and the South Pole. This specific archived subset was last updated in January 2008.

Use Cases

• Analyze temporal trends in solar radiation measurements from specific stations like Barrow or Mauna Loa.
• Validate climate model outputs against ground-based surface radiation data from the BSRN network.
• Study the spatial variability of solar irradiance by comparing data from stations at different latitudes and altitudes.
• Assess data continuity and potential gaps for stations with noted operational issues, such as Bermuda.

Strengths

• Data is sourced from the authoritative NOAA Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN).
• Includes measurements from key global baseline sites like the South Pole and Mauna Loa.

Limitations

• The archived subset is temporally stale, with a last update date of January 2008.
• The dataset is explicitly noted as an incomplete subset, with more current data held elsewhere.
• Operational status for some stations (e.g., Bermuda, Kwajalein) was uncertain at the time of the source description.

Provenance

Source

NOAA ESRL Global Radiation (G-Rad) group, Boulder, Colorado.

Collection Method

Ground-based measurements from the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) monitoring stations.

Time Range

Data extends at least through 2008, but the exact start date is unknown.

Freshness

Stale; last updated 2008-01-31.

Geography

Global baseline sites including Barrow (Alaska), Mauna Loa (Hawaii), American Samoa, South Pole, Kwajalein, Bermuda, and Trinidad Head (California).