DESCRIPTION OF BASELINE DAILY DATA FILES Updated on Mar. 20, 2023 Baseline data files are writen in the SURFRAD format and include places for instruments that are not at Baseline sites, e.g., UVB, PAR. Those columns are filled with missing values FILENAME INFORMATION: BASELINE data files contain one day of data for one station. The FTP directories from which BASELINE data are distributed are organized by station and year. The naming convention for BASELINE data filenames is "stayyjjj.dat", where sta is a three-letter station identifier, yy represents the last two digits of the year (i.e., 95 for 1995, 00 for 2000), and jjj is the day of year. A "day of year" in a filename that is less than 100 would be preceded by one or two zeros, e.g., day 75 would appear as 075, day 2 would appear as 002 in the filename. The BASELINE processing software is year 2000 compliant. The year within the data files is written unambiguously with 4 digits on each line. "brw" is the station identifier for Barrow, Alaska "bao" is the station identifier for The Boulder Atmospheric Observatory "ber" is the station identifier for Bermuda "mlo" is the station identifier for Mauna Loa "kwa" is the station identifier for Kwajalein "smo" is the station identifier for American Samoa "spo" is the station identifier for South Pole "thd" is the station identifier for Trinidad Head The extension ".dat" is used because both radiation and meteorological data are included. The file "brw95099.dat" contains all of the radiation and meteorological data for Barrow on day 99 of 1995. Daily BASELINE data files for each station may be downloaded from the following location: ftp://aftp.cmdl.noaa.gov/data/radiation/baseline/ To get to a specific file, advance to the appropriate station directory, and then to the specific year directory, e.g., ftp://aftp.cmdl.noaa.gov/data/radiation/baseline/brw/2003/ for Barrow 2003 data DATA STRUCTURE: BASELINE data are organized into daily files of one- or three-minute data, and are written in ASCII text. Before 1-jan. 1998 the data were reported as 3-min averages; on and after 1-Jan. 1998 the BASELINE data are reported as 1-min. averages. Baseline data may be read with the section of FORTRAN code listed below. The format was specified in such a way to ensure that all entries are separated by at least one space so that the files may be read with free format. BASELINE follows the quality control (QC) philosophy of the BSRN. Bad data are deleted, but questionable data are only flagged. Integer QC flags follow each data point. A QC flag of zero indicates that the corresponding data point is good, having passed all QC checks. A value greater than 0 indicates that the data failed one level of QC. For example, a QC value of 1 means that the recorded value is beyond a physically possible range, or it has been affected adversely in some manner to produce a knowingly bad value. A value of 2 indicates that the data value failed the second level QC check, indicating that the data value may be physically possible but should be used with scrutiny, and so on. Missing values are indicated by -9999.9 and should always have a QC flag of 1. The following section of FORTRAN code may be used to read daily BASELINE files: parameter (nlines=1440) character*80 station_name c integer year,month,day,jday,elevation,version integer min(nlines),hour(nlines) c real latitude,longitude,dt(nlines),zen(nlines),direct_n(nlines) real dw_solar(nlines),uw_solar(nlines) real diffuse(nlines),dw_ir(nlines),dw_casetemp(nlines) real dw_dometemp(nlines),uw_ir(nlines),uw_casetemp(nlines) real uw_dometemp(nlines),uvb(nlines),par(nlines) real netsolar(nlines),netir(nlines),totalnet(nlines),temp(nlines) real rh(nlines),windspd(nlines),winddir(nlines),pressure(nlines) c integer qc_direct_n(nlines),qc_netsolar(nlines),qc_netir(nlines) integer qc_dwsolar(nlines),qc_uwsolar(nlines),qc_diffuse(nlines) integer qc_dwir(nlines),qc_dwcasetemp(nlines) integer qc_dwdometemp(nlines),qc_uwir(nlines) integer qc_uwcasetemp(nlines),qc_uwdometemp(nlines) integer qc_uvb(nlines),qc_par(nlines) integer qc_totalnet(nlines),qc_temp(nlines) integer qc_rh(nlines),qc_windspd(nlines),qc_winddir(nlines) integer qc_pressure(nlines) c c lun_in = 20 open(unit=lun_in,file=[filename.dat],status='old',readonly) . . . read (lun_in,10) station_name 10 format(1x,a) read(lun_in,*) latitude, longitude, elevation c icount = 0 do i = 1,nlines c read(lun_in,30,end=40) year,jday,month,day,hour(i),min(i),dt(i), 1 zen(i),dw_solar(i),qc_dwsolar(i),uw_solar(i),qc_uwsolar(i),direct_n(i), 2 qc_direct_n(i),diffuse(i),qc_diffuse(i),dw_ir(i), 3 qc_dwir(i),dw_casetemp(i),qc_dwcasetemp(i),dw_dometemp(i), 4 qc_dwdometemp(i),uw_ir(i),qc_uwir(i),uw_casetemp(i), 5 qc_uwcasetemp(i),uw_dometemp(i),qc_uwdometemp(i),uvb(i), 6 qc_uvb(i),par(i),qc_par(i),netsolar(i),qc_netsolar(i),netir(i), 7 qc_netir(i),totalnet(i),qc_totalnet(i),temp(i),qc_temp(i),rh(i), 8 qc_rh(i),windspd(i),qc_windspd(i),winddir(i),qc_winddir(i), 9 pressure(i),qc_pressure(i) c icount = icount + 1 30 format(1x,i4,1x,i3,4(1x,i2),1x,f6.3,1x,f6.2,20(1x,f7.1,1x,i1)) c enddo 40 type *,'end of file reached, ',icount,' records read' . . . The file structure includes two header records; the first has the name of the station, and the second gives the station's latitude, longitude, elevation above mean sea level in meters, and the version number of the file. These are followed by at most, 1440 lines of 1-min. data or 480 lines of 3-min. data. Files are organized in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC). The date and time are given on every line. Data are reported as 1- or 3-minute averages of one-second samples. Reported times are the end times of the 1- or 3-min. averaging periods, i.e., the data given for 0000 UTC are averaged over the period from 2359 (or 2357) of the previous UTC day, to 0000 UTC. The solar zenith angle is reported in degrees on each line of data. It is computed for the central time of the averaging period of the sampled data. Missing-data periods within the files are not filled in with missing values, therefore, a file with missing periods will have fewer than 1440 lines for 1-min. data, or 480 lines for 3-min. data. Radiation values are reported to the tenths place. Although this is beyond the accuracy of the instruments, data are reported in this manner in order to maintain the capability of backing out the raw voltages at the accuracy that they were originally reported. The variables, their data type, and description are given below: station_name character station name, e. g., Goodwin Creek latitude real latitude in decimal degrees (e. g., 40.80) longitude real longitude in decimal degrees (e. g., 105.12) elevation integer elevation above sea level in meters year integer year, i.e., 1995 jday integer Julian day (1 through 365 [or 366]) month integer number of the month (1-12) day integer day of the month(1-31) hour integer hour of the day (0-23) min integer minute of the hour (0-59) dt real decimal time (hour.decimalminutes, e.g., 23.5 = 2330) zen real solar zenith angle (degrees) dw_solar real downwelling global solar (Watts m^-2) uw_solar real upwelling global solar (Watts m^-2) direct_n real direct-normal solar (Watts m^-2) diffuse real downwelling diffuse solar (Watts m^-2) dw_ir real downwelling thermal infrared (Watts m^-2) dw_casetemp real downwelling IR case temp. (K) dw_dometemp real downwelling IR dome temp. (K) uw_ir real upwelling thermal infrared (Watts m^-2) uw_casetemp real upwelling IR case temp. (K) uw_dometemp real upwelling IR dome temp. (K) uvb real global UVB (milliWatts m^-2) par real photosynthetically active radiation (Watts m^-2) netsolar real net solar (dw_solar - uw_solar) (Watts m^-2) netir real net infrared (dw_ir - uw_ir) (Watts m^-2) totalnet real net radiation (netsolar+netir) (Watts m^-2) temp real 10-meter air temperature (?C) rh real relative humidity (%) windspd real wind speed (ms^-1) winddir real wind direction (degrees, clockwise from north) pressure real station pressure (mb) Diffuse solar and station pressure were not originally part of the BASELINE suite of measurements. These were added to all stations in the 1996-97 time frame. Early data files from all stations have places for these parameters, but they are filled with missing values until the time when those instruments were installed. Diffuse and global solar processing: It is not unusual that thermopile-based solar instruments register a small negative signal at night. Most of this error is attributed to the thermopile cooling to space. These erroneous offsets are manifested in the global and diffuse solar measurements, but not in the pyrheliometer that measures direct-normal solar irradiance. Erroneous nighttime offsets in the diffuse and global solar measurements of between 0 and -10 Wm^-2 are typical, but can be as great as 30 Wm^-2. Because this behavior is common, only nighttime signals that drop below -30 are flagged. The erroneous offset is also present in daytime data, but is masked by the solar signal. A way to correct this error in the daytime diffuse measurements has been developed. It is described in Dutton et al, 2001 (J. Atmos. and Ocean Tech., 18, 297-314). Their method involves the development of a relationship between the thermopile output of a collocated pyrgeometer and the negative diffuse signals for nighttime periods. That relationship is then applied to all diffuse data (night and day). As of March 19, 2004, all diffuse solar data prior to the 2001 instrument exchanges at each station have been corrected using the Dutton et al. method. The Eppley model 8-48 pyranometer, which has been used for the diffuse measurement since the 2001 instrument exchanges, does not have this problem. The model 8-48 pyranometer relies on a differential signal between a black and a white surface on the detector. Since these two surfaces emit the same in the infrared, the differential signal owing to infrared cooling of the sensor's surface is zero. Thus there is little or no erroneous offset owing to radiative cooling of the 8-48 sensor at night (or in the day). The global solar sensor has the same infrared cooling problem, but solar heating inside of the dome during the day prevents development of a simple relationship using nighttime data that is applicable during the day. Solar heating is not a problem with the diffuse pyranometer because it is, by practice, shaded. Therefore, the global solar measurement is not yet correctable, and should only be used in cases when the direct-normal and diffuse solar measurements are not available. Net radiation processing: Only done for Barrow and South Pole Net radiation, net solar, net infrared, and total net (net solar + net infrared) are computed and reported in the daily processed files. In computing net solar (downwelling solar - upwelling solar) the best measure of downwelling solar is used. When direct-normal and diffuse solar are available, and deemed to be of good quality, their sum (direct-normal*cosSZA + diffuse) is used for the downwelling solar in the net solar calculation. Otherwise, the global solar measurement is used. Whenever any of the solar measurements are negative (owing to cooling of the thermopile near dusk and dawn), they are set to 0 before computing the net radiation. Net solar is computed for solar zenith angles between 0 and 96 degrees. The net solar calculation is extended beyond 90, to 96 degrees to account for civil twilight. All radiation parameters, except UVB, are reported in units of Watts m^-2; UVB is reported in milliWatts m^-2. UVB processing: Not measured at Baseline sites PAR processing: Not measured at Baseline sites QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE BASELINE data distributed on the ftp site are provisional. NOAA has attempted to produce the best data set possible, however the data quality is constrained by measurement accuracies of the instruments and the quality of the calibrations. Regardless, NOAA attempts to ensure the best quality possible through quality assurance and quality control. The data are subjected to automatic procedures as the daily files are processed. At present, they are subjected only to this first-level check, and a daily "eye" check before being released, however, as quality control procedures become more refined, they will be applied, and new versions of the data files will be generated. Quality assurance methods are in place to ensure against premature equipment failure in the field and post deployment data problems. For example, all instruments at each station are exchanged for newly calibrated instruments on an annual basis. Calibrations are performed by world- recognized organizations. Pyranometers and pyrheliometers have been calibrated at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, or the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Region 4 Regional Solar Calibration Center at NOAA in Boulder, Colo. BASELINE pyrgeometers are calibrated using three standards maintained at NOAA's Field Test and Calibration Facility at Table Mountain near Boulder, CO. BASELINE pyrometer standards' calibrations are traceable to the WISG world standard device in Davos, Switzerland, where they are calibrated annually. In general, all of the standards at NOAA/Boulder and at DOE/NREL are traceable to world standards or an equivalent. Calibration factors for the UVB instrument are transferred from three standards maintained by NOAA's National UV Calibration Facility in Boulder. Finally, in order to maintain continuity between the returned instruments and their replacements, all instruments are gauged against three standard instruments before and after field deployment. INSTRUMENTS: 1. The Normal Incidence Pryheliometer (NIP) The NIP measures direct-normal solar radiation in the broadband spectral range from 280 to 3000 nm. Those used at BASELINE stations are calibrated nominally on a yearly basis at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. 2. The Eppley PSP pyranometer Pyranometers measure global downwelling and upwelling solar irradiance at BASELINE stations. These instruments are sensitive to the same broadband spectral range as the NIP, 280 to 3000 nm. They are calibrated on a yearly basis. An inherent problem with solid black thermopile pyrometers, such as the SR-75 and Eppley PSP, is that their sensor cools to space (if it is directed upward) and that causes a negative signal. This is apparent at night where it shows up as an erroneous negative irradiance that can be as great as -30 Wm^-2. 3. Eppley 8-48 "black and white" pyranometer This pyranometer has been used for the diffuse solar measurement since 2001. The 8-48 has been found to have desirable properties for this measurement because it does not use a solid black surface for the detector and thus does not have the "nighttime" offset problem. These instruments are sensitive to the same broadband spectral range as the NIP and solar, 280 to 3000 nm. They are also calibrated on a yearly basis. 4. Precision Infrared Radiometer (PIR) The PIR measures dand downwelling thermal infrared irradiance. PIRs are sensitive to the spectral range from 3000 to 50,000 nm. NOAA maintains three standard PIRs that are calibrated annually by a world-reputable organization. These standards are used to calibrate field PIRs. CONTACT: Inquires should be directed to: Laura Riihimaki NOAA GML G-RAD 325 Broadway Boulder, Colorado 80305 Telephone: +1 (720) 263-2016 Email: Laura.Riihimaki@noaa.gov