Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) Working Group

The BSRN is an international scientific project that coordinates the collection and storage of high-accuracy surface irradiance measurements by member stations. Its primary focus is to provide high-quality, long-term observations of solar and thermal infrared radiation at the Earth’s surface for climate research and monitoring.

Leads/Contacts

Co-Chair: Laura D. Riihimaki, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA
Co-Chair: Shun Sasaki, Japan Meteorological Agency, 3-6-9 Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan
Co-Chair: Amelie Driemel, Alfred-Wegener Institut, Bremerhaven, Germany

Mission Statement

The mission of the BSRN is to provide the global scientific community with accurate, continuous, and traceable measurements of the Earth’s surface radiation budget. This data is crucial for validating satellite observations, improving climate models, and understanding the role of radiation in climate variability and change. By maintaining a network of high-quality stations worldwide, BSRN supports research on the Earth’s energy balance and helps inform policy and adaptation strategies related to climate change.

Key Activities

  • Operate a global network of surface stations that measure solar and thermal infrared radiation with high precision.
  • Ensure data quality through standardized measurement protocols, instrument calibration, and rigorous quality control procedures.
  • Provide open-access, quality-controlled radiation data for use in climate research, model validation, and satellite product evaluation.
  • Collaborate with international scientific organizations, including the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Global Energy and Water Exchanges Project (GEWEX), the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC), and the International Radiation Commission.
  • Support the development of new measurement techniques and the expansion of the network to underrepresented regions.

Joining BSRN

New member stations that meet BSRN’s standards and quality are welcome, particularly from underrepresented areas, such as sites in the Southern Hemisphere. New stations must meet BSRN criteria as described here, https://bsrn.awi.de/stations/join-bsrn/, and be voted on at a BSRN biennial meeting.