Abstract
Gangneung-Wonju National University (GWNU) radiation station has been collecting data on global, direct, and diffuse solar radiation since 2011. We conducted a quality control (QC) assessment of GWNU data collected between 2012 and 2014, using procedures outlined by the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN). The QC process involved the comparison of observations, the correction of observational equipment, the examination of physically possible limits, and the comparative testing of observations and model calculations. Furthermore, we performed a shading check of the observational environment around the GWNU solar station. For each solar radiation element (observed every minute), we performed a QC check and investigated any flagged problems. 98.31% of the data were classified as good quality, while the remaining 1.69% were flagged as bad quality based on the shading check and comparison tests. We then compared the good-quality data to the global solar radiation data observed at the Gangwon Regional Office of Meteorology (GROM). After performing this comparison, the determination coefficient (R2; 0.98) and standard deviation (SD; 0.92 MJ m−2) increased compared to those computed before the QC check (0.97 and 1.09 MJ m−2). Even considering the geographical differences and weather effects between the two stations, these results are statistically significant. However, we also confirmed that the quality of the GROM data deteriorated in relation to weather conditions because of poor maintenance. Hence, we conclude that good-quality observational data rely on the maintenance of both observational equipment and the surrounding environment under optimal conditions.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Augustine, J. A., and E. G. Dutton, 2013: Variability of the Surface radiation budget over the United States from 1996 through 2011 from high-quality measurements. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 118, 43–53, doi: 10.1029/2012JD018551.
Augustine, J. A., G. B. Hodges, C. R. Cornwall, J. J. Michalsky, and C. I. Medina, 2005: An update on SURFRAD -The GCOS Surface Radiation budget network for the continental United States. J. Atmos. Oceanic Techol., 22, 1460–1472.
Carnicero, B. A., 2001: Characterization of Pyranometer Thermal Offset and Correction of Historical Data. Master of Science thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 25 pp.
Charlock, T. P., F. G. Rose, D. A. Rutan, C. K. Rutledge, L. Larman, Y. Hu, S. Kato, and M. Haeffelin, 2000: Surface and Atmospheric Radiation Budget (SARB) Validation Plan for CERES Subsystem 5.0. 52 pp.
Charlock, T. P., F. G. Rose, and D. A. Rutan, 2003: Validation of the Archived CERES Surface and Atmosphere Radiation Budget (SARB) at SGP. Proc. Thirteenth ARM Science Team Meeting, Broomfield, USA.
Christian, A. G., and R. M. Daryl, 2007: Solar radiation measurement: Progress in radiometry for improved modeling. In V. Badescu, Ed., Modeling Solar Radiation at the Earth’s Surface. Springer, 12–17.
Fröhlich, C., 1997: World Radiometric Reference: WMO/CIMO Final Report, WMO No. 490, 97–100, Geneva, Switzerland.
Gilgen, H., C. Whitlock, F. Koch, G. Muller, A. Ohmura, D. Steiger, and R. Wheeler, 1995: Technical Plan for BSRN (Baseline Surface Radiation Network) Data Management (version 2.1, final). WMO/TD-No. 443, WCRP/WMO, 57 pp.
Gueymard, C. A., and J. A. Ruiz-Arias, 2016: Extensive worldwide validation and climate sensitivity analysis of direct irradiance predictions from 1-min global irradiance. Solar Energy, 128, 1–30, doi:10. 1016/j.solener.2015.10.010.
Hegner, H., G. Muller, V. Nespor, A. Ohmura, R. Steigrad, and H. Gilgen, 1998: Updates of the technical plan for BSRN data management. World Radiation Monitoring Center Tech. Rep. 2, WMO/TD-No. 882, WCRP/WMO, 60 pp.
Heimo, A., A. Vernez, and P. Wasserfallen, 1993: Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN): Concept and Implementation of a BSRN station. WMO/TD-No. 579, WCRP/WMO, 17 pp.
International Organization of Standardization, 1990: Solar energy -Specification and classification of instruments for measuring hemispherical solar and direct solar radiation. ISO 9690, Geneva, Switzerland.
Jee, J. B., I. S. Zo, and K. T. Lee, 2013: A study on the retrievals of downward solar radiation at the surface based on the observations from multiple geostationary satellites. Korean J. Remote Sens., 29, 123–135, doi:10.7780/kjrs.2013.29.1.12 (in Korean with English abstract).
Jung, Y. J., H. K. Cho, J. Kim, Y. J. Kim, and Y. M. Kim, 2011: The effects of clouds on enhancing surface solar irradiance. Atmosphere, 21, 131–142 (in Korean with English abstract).
König-Langlo, G., R. Sieger, H. Schmith sen, A. B cker, F. Richter, and E. Dutton, 2013: The Baseline Surface Radiation Network and its World Radiation Monitoring Centre at the Alfred Wegener Institute. GCOS-174, 22 pp.
Lanconelli, C., M. Busetto, E. G. Dutton, G. König-Langlo, M. Maturilli, R. Sieger, V. Vitale, and T. Yamanouchi, 2011: Polar baseline surface radiation measurements during the International Polar Year 2007-2009. Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 3, 1–8, doi:10.5194/essd-3-1-2011.
Long, C. N., and E. G. Dutton, 2002: BSRN Global Network recommended QCtests, V2.0. BSRN Technical Report.
Long, C. N., and Y. Shi, 2006: The QCRad Value Added Product: Surface Radiation Measurement Quality Control Testing, Including Climatology Configurable Limits. U.S. Department of Energy. DOE/SC-ARM/TR-074, 69 pp.
Major, M., 1994: Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN). Circumsolar Correction for Pyrheliometers and Diffusometers. WMO/TD-No. 635, 42 pp.
McArthur, L. J. B., 2004: Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN), Operations Manual, WMO/TD-NO. 1274.
Mercado, L. M., N. Bellouin, S. Sitch, O. Boucher, C. Huntingford, M. Wild, P. M. Cox, 2009: Impact of changes in diffuse radiation on the global land carbon sink. Nature, 458, 1014–1018.
Morrison, R., 1998: Grounding and Shielding Techniques. Wiley-Interscience, 216 pp.
Ohmura, A., and Coauthors, 1998: Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN/WCRP): New precision radiometry for climate research. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 79, 2115–2136.
Philipona, R., 2002: Underestimation of solar global and diffuse radiation measured at earth’s surface. J. Geophys. Res., 107, doi:10.1029/2002-JD002396.
Pinker, R., I. Laszlo, Y. Wang, and J. D. Tarpley, 1996: GCIP GOES-8 shortwave radiation budget: Validation activity. Preprint, Second Int. Scientific Conf. on the Global Energy and Water Cycle, Washington, DC,245–249
Ramanathan, V., P. J. Crutzen, J. T. Kiehl, and D. Rosenfeld, 2001: Atmosphere -aerosols, climate, and the hydrological cycle. Science, 243, 57–63.
Roesch, A., M. Wild, A. Ohmura, E. G. Dutton, C. N. Long, and T. Zhang, 2011: Assessment of BSRN radiation records for the computation of monthly means. Atmos. Meas. Tech., 4, 339–354, doi:10.5194/amt-4-339-2011.
Takeuchi, W., 2010: Investigating of cloud coverage statistics in Asia using NOAA AVHRR time series. Asian J. Geoinf., 10, 47–52.
Tarpley, J. D., R. T. Pinker, and I. Laszlo, 1996: Experimental GOES shortwave radiation budget for GCIP. Preprint, Second Int. Scientific Conf. on the Global Energy and Water Cycle, Washington, DC,284–285.
Wild, M., A. Ohmura, H. Gilgen, and E. Roeckner, 1995: Validation of GCM simulated radiative fluxes using surface observations. J. Climate, 8, 1309–1324.
World Meteorological Organization, 2008: Guide to Meteorological Instruments and Methods of Observation. WMO-No. 8 (7th ed.), 681 pp.
Wild, M., 2012: Third WMO Regional Pyrheliometer Comparison of RAII. Instruments and Observing Methods Report No. 113, 46 pp.
Zo, I. S., J. B. Jee, and K. T. Lee, 2014: Development of GWNU (Gangneung-Wonju National University) one-layer transfer model for calculation of solar radiation distribution of the Korea peninsula. Asia-Pac. J. Atmos. Sci., 50, 575–584, doi:10.1007/s13143-014-0047-0.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zo, IS., Jee, JB., Kim, BY. et al. Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) quality control of solar radiation data on the Gangneung-Wonju National University radiation station. Asia-Pacific J Atmos Sci 53, 11–19 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13143-016-0029-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13143-016-0029-5