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Facilitating Access to Global Observing Systems Data and Information

GCOS Essential Climate Variables (ECV)
Atmospheric/Surface/Surface Radiation Budget

The Surface Radiation Budget is a fundamental component of the surface energy budget that is crucial to nearly all aspects of climate. The Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) has established the relevant measurement techniques and is now recognized as the GCOS baseline network for surface radiation. The BSRN provides high-quality but spatially limited measurements of radiation at the surface. The GCOS action to expand the BSRN network, increasing the number of land stations and using research ships and buoys over the ocean is an important step. However, additional data are needed to obtain a sufficient spatial coverage for climate monitoring (from the 7th Framework Pogramme Theme 9 "Space" - 11/2009)

[ECV Matrix Main Page] [About the ECV Matrix] [Reference Documents] [Contact] [Updated July 26, 2010]

Non-Satellite or in-situ Satellite
  • World Radiation Data Centre (WRDC) archive contains data on: Global solar radiation, Diffuse solar radiation, Downward atmospheric radiation, Sunshine duration, Direct solar radiation (hourly and instantaneous), Net total radiation, Net terrestrial surface radiation (upward), Terrestrial surface radiation, Reflected solar radiation, Spectral radiation components (instantaneous fluxes) (data) (metadata) (data documentation) (contact)

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