4
• how will the data be quality controlled and archived?
In the BSRN, standards of measurement accuracy and archiving have been clearly defined, but
the exact manner in which these standards can be achieved is left to national experts responsible
for carrying out the measurements. This is because a number of commercially available
instruments can perform to the desired accuracy when used properly and maintenance, quality
control and data archival are determined by the circumstances of individual stations, national
constraints and station procedures. This manner of developing a network has strengths and
weaknesses. Its greatest strengths are the ability of regional experts to operate a station
designed especially for the regim e in which it exists, and that the operation of each station is
closely m onitored scientifically. On the other hand, achieving a high degree of standardization in
overall BSRN procedures is more difficult. For example, the solutions to problems at one station
may not be applicable to any other stations because of the dependency on particular equipment
or national requirements. Thus, while each station may be the best possible for any given set of
circumstances, the ability to transfer expertise from one station to another is more difficult.
The operations manual for such a network must use the strengths and overcome the weaknesses
of this multinational approach. This manual has been developed based partly upon the following
general observations:
• The individuals involved in the set-up and operation of each station are experts in the
field of radiation measurement. Therefore, these scientists already know a great deal
about the best way of implementing the BSRN guidelines. Such individuals often have
difficulty accepting ideas other than their own, however. They will find it difficult to accept
any form of standardization for the benefit of the network if it is not already part of their
site plans.
• National policies or individual experiences dictate what types of instrumentation can be
used. This m ay provide the best equipm ent for each individual station, but it may limit
the ability of some stations to obtain certain instruments. The lack of standardized
instrumentation makes the production of a single set of operating instructions for all
stations impossible.
• Individual nations have varying levels of commitment to the BSRN with respect to labor
and financing. This depends on both desire and capability.
• National interests will alter the focus of each station among the determination of climate
change, satellite validation and experimental research pertaining to the BSRN concept.
• Station directors require freedom to alter portions of the operation manual to optimize
on-site use of resources, both human and financial.
These observations are reflected in the contents of the manual in several ways:
• The description of a variety of instruments will be found. Often several different types of
instrum ents can m easure a single flux.
• Occasionally, alternate methods for accomplishing the same task are presented. Not all
methods will give the sam e quality or results, but they are provided in recognition of the
fact that some sites cannot carry out various procedures.
• Certain subjects within the operating manual have not been specified in detail because
of their dependency on specialized procedures developed or on specific products. An
example of this, are the programming repair and calibration of data acquisition systems.
While keeping the above considerations in mind, the manual is intended to be used by three
groups of individuals:
• experts who have an established BSRN station
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