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ReportDOI

ACRF Instrumentation Status: New, Current, and Future June 2007

01 Jun 2007-
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide a concise but comprehensive overview of ACRF instrumentation status, including new instrumentation in the process of being acquired and deployed, existing instrumentation and progress on improvements or upgrades, proposed future instrumentation, and SBIR instrument development.
Abstract: The purpose of this report is to provide a concise but comprehensive overview of ACRF instrumentation status. The report is divided into four sections: (1) new instrumentation in the process of being acquired and deployed, (2) existing instrumentation and progress on improvements or upgrades, (3) proposed future instrumentation, and (4) SBIR instrument development. New information is blue.

Summary (9 min read)

Jump to: [1.2 Optical Rain Gauge for SGP][STATUS -(SGP)][1.5 Infrared Sky Imager][1.7 DigiCORA-III for Manus, Nauru][2.1 Atmospherically Emitted Radiance Interferometer][2.1.1 Windows and Rapid-Sampling Upgrade][2.2 Aerosol Observing System (AOS)][2.3 Balloon-Borne Sound System (SONDE)][2.3.1 Make ARM -Barrow Soundings Available to the Global Telecommunication System][2.4.1 Pyrgeometer Calibration Improvements][2.4.2 Radiometer Calibration Facility Data Acquisition System Replacement (deferred to FY2008)][2.8 Cimel Sun Photometer (CSPHOT)][2.8.1 Internet Data Transfer][2.10 Energy Balance Bowen Ratio Station (EBBR)][SGP -][2.11.1 Add Wetness Sensors][2.12 G-Band (183.3 GHz) Water Vapor Radiometer][2.13 Global Positioning System (SuomiNet)][2.15 In-situ Carbon Profiling][2.16 InfraRed Thermometer (IRT)][Improvements][2.17.2 Establish MFRSR Calibration Facility at SGP][2.17.3 Data Logger Replacement][2.18.1 MMCR Digital Transceiver Upgrade][2.18.2 MMCR Processor Upgrades][2.18.3 MMCR Spares Kit][2.18.5 Spare Traveling Wave Tubes][2.18.6 MMCR Spectra Processing][2.18.7 Refurbish MMCR Antennas][2.19 Micro-Pulse Lidar (MPL)][2.21 MicroWave Radiometer Profiller (MWRP)][2.22 Narrow Field of View Radiometer (NFOV)][2.25.1 Upgrade to Digital Receivers][STATUS -][2.26 Radar Wind Profiler (RWP) -50 MHz][2.27 Soil Water and Temperature System (SWATS)][2.27.1 Replace In-Ground Sensor Arrays][2.28 Shortwave Spectrometer (SWS)][2.29 Surface Meteorological Instrumentation (SMET, SMOS, SURTHREF, THWAPS, MET, ORG, PWS)][2.29.1 Develop Dynamic Rain Gauge Calibration Facility][2.29.2 Upgrade T/RH Probes and Wind Sensors for NSA Met Systems][2.30 Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (TDMA)][2.31 Hot Plate Total Precipitation Sensor (TPS)][3.1 Future Microwave Radiometers][3.2 ARM Program Volume-Imaging Array (AVA)][3.3 Absolute Scanning Radiometer][3.5 High-Resolution Oxygen A-Band and Water-Band Spectrometer][3.6 Rotating Shadowband Spectrometer Overhaul] and [3.7 Add 1.6 :m Channel to Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer and Narrow Field of View]

1.2 Optical Rain Gauge for SGP

  • An optical rain gauge will be acquired for the Southern Great Plains (SGP) for use with the Atmospheric Remotely Sensed Cloud Boundaries value-added procedure (VAP).
  • The AMF and Tropical Western Pacific (TWP) field sites already have optical rain gauges installed.
  • -The optical rain gauge (ORG) was delivered to SGP in mid-June.
  • Installation is scheduled for early July after CLASIC concludes.

STATUS -(SGP)

  • The repaired instrument was delivered to SGP on 22 June following a twoweek delay because of difficulty getting it through U.S. Customs.
  • Argonne's customs broker intervened to prevent the instrument from being consigned for public auction.
  • The second instrument was deployed at Heselbach, Germany on 8 June.
  • Currently, spectral albedo measurements are only possible at the SGP central facility using downward facing Multi-Filter Radiometers (MFR) on the 25-m level of the 60-m tower over a wheat field, and on a 10-m tower over the adjoining pasture.
  • By adding a MFR to the Cessna 206 used for the In-situ Aerosol Profile (IAP), routine measurements of surface spectral albedo could be acquired over a broader area around the SGP central facility (ECO-00584).

1.5 Infrared Sky Imager

  • STATUS -The MFR and its data logger have been installed Cessna 206.
  • Gary Hodges is troubleshooting problems with the data cable that connects the instrument to the logger.

1.7 DigiCORA-III for Manus, Nauru

  • The digiCORA is the ground station for the Vaisala balloon borne sounding system (BBSS).
  • For reliability and compatibility reasons it is necessary to replace the digiCORA-II systems at Manus and Nauru with the new digiCORA-III systems (ECO-00598).
  • This section describes the current status of the existing instrumentation, including any upgrades planned or in progress.
  • In order to reduce the size of the AMF "footprint", relocating the AERI to the Aerosol Trailer is under discussion.

2.1 Atmospherically Emitted Radiance Interferometer

  • NSA -This Windows XP-based AERI is operating nominally.
  • The spare ER-AERI system that was operated at Barrow during RHUBC was returned to SSEC along with its faulty hatch controller.
  • Because these data are not critical and because the repair of this old system was not cost effective, the channels were not repaired.
  • This is the same problem this instrument was suffering from last year, which necessitated it being returned to the vendor for repair.
  • TWP -This Windows XP-based AERI is operating nominally.

2.1.1 Windows and Rapid-Sampling Upgrade

  • Migration of the AERI software from OS/2 Warp to Windows XP and related computer hardware modernization to enable rapid sampling of the IR spectrum at 10-s intervals was begun in FY2004 (ECO-00286).
  • Upgraded AERI systems are currently operational at SGP, NSA-Burrow, and Tropical Western Pacific (TWP)-Nauru, and TWP-Darwin.
  • -An upgraded electronics rack and Windows XP computer were shipped to Germany to replace the old OS/2 electronics rack used with the AMF AERI system.
  • Unfortunately the electronics subsystem failed in transit to Germany and has been returned to SSEC for diagnosis and repair.
  • The failed DSP card in the upgraded electronics rack was replaced.

2.2 Aerosol Observing System (AOS)

  • John Ogren and Anne Jefferson, NOAA/ESRL/GMD AMF -Operating nominally, also known as Mentor.
  • A new tower assembly for the AMF AOS is being designed to reduce the time required to set up the tower and to eliminate the need to rent a crane to install it.
  • Instead of using PVC pipe for the AOS inlet the mentor is considering lightweight collapsible tubing.
  • SGP -Operating nominally since the reconfiguration in May.
  • The new configuration has the same data acquisition software and file structure as the AOS systems for the AMF and the NOAA system in Barrow.

2.3 Balloon-Borne Sound System (SONDE)

  • The extra soundings at FKB are due to replacement flights made shortly after the regularly scheduled soundings terminated within 30 minutes of launch.
  • Operators are instructed to monitor the soundings for a period after launch and launch a second radiosonde if the first one fails early in flight.
  • With the exception of FKB (70%), these targets were reached by 90% of all ARM soundings.
  • Helium conservation measures, which include under-filling the balloons, will continue until the international helium shortage is resolved.

2.3.1 Make ARM -Barrow Soundings Available to the Global Telecommunication System

  • Soundings from SGP and NSA are now available to the global telecommunications system (GTS).
  • Soundings from TWP (Manus and Nauru) will also be available to the GTS once the new DigiCORA-III systems are installed and operational there.

2.4.1 Pyrgeometer Calibration Improvements

  • Tom Stoffel and Ibrahim Reda have initiated an investigation into the source of the bias in the ACRF pyrgeometer blackbody calibration system (ECO-00559).
  • At blackbody temperatures less than -20°C, the Dow Corning 200 fluid viscosity increases, which inhibits mixing and results in a temperature gradient of 3°C from the base to the top of the hemispherical blackbody.
  • Additionally, a replacement fluid with better low-temperature characteristics has been identified.
  • Pyrgeometers calibrated using the new manifold and fluid will be compared with pyrgeometers having calibrations traceable to the World Infrared Standard Group (WISG) and with pyrgeometers calibrated by NOAA/GMD.
  • Reda continues to explore methods for confirming/correcting this lower ΔT.

2.4.2 Radiometer Calibration Facility Data Acquisition System Replacement (deferred to FY2008)

  • The data acquisition system in the Radiometer Calibration Facility used for annual Broadband Outdoor Radiometer Calibration activities is over ten years old and needs to be updated.
  • NREL has recently replaced their BORCAL data acquisition system using internal funds.
  • The SGP system should be a duplicate of the NREL system for software compatibility and performance assurance.

2.8 Cimel Sun Photometer (CSPHOT)

  • None (external data provided by NASA AERONET) AMF -Awaiting an upgraded, calibrated replacement (unit #98), also known as Mentor.
  • Unit #168 will be returned to AERONET for upgrade and calibration.
  • An EPROM with the corrected programming for unit #402 has been sent to Nauru.

2.8.1 Internet Data Transfer

  • The transfer of CSPHOT data from the Cimel instrument to AERONET using GOES or Meteosat will be replaced with an Internet data transfer to improve reliability of the transfer, to permit ACRF personnel to monitor the transfer, and to allow the raw data to be acquired, ingested, and archived for use by ARM Science Team members (ECO-00555).
  • Internet transfer of CSPOT data to AEORNET has been initiated at TWP-Nauru and SGP, and NSA-Barrow sites.

2.10 Energy Balance Bowen Ratio Station (EBBR)

  • David Cook, Argonne National Laboratory Data were generally good; all systems were operating with minimal problems, also known as Mentor.
  • In preparation for CLASIC, four EBBR systems have been re-calibrated: two were installed in March and two more will be installed in early June.
  • Vaisala no longer supports the combined temperature and relative humidity probes in the EBBR (2 per system) but does still offer recalibration services.
  • Replacement probes are available from the EBBR manufacturer.
  • As the old probes are replaced they can be used as spares for the systems not yet upgraded to the new probes.

SGP -

  • The "garbled" data problem has been traced to serial ports on the InfraRed Gas Analyzers or Versalogic computers that work intermittently, resulting in shortened serial data streams that can not be interpreted by the ECOR programming.
  • Two IRGAs and one computer were found to have low serial line voltages.
  • Replacement of that equipment with equipment determined to be working properly brought all ECOR systems into working order.
  • Tests of the serial ports of all IRGAs and Versalogic computers are now being done before they are installed in the field.

2.11.1 Add Wetness Sensors

  • Adding a wetness indication would provide the data user with a more reliable source of information concerning this condition (ECO-00536).
  • STATUS -Wetness sensor testing on an ECOR system similar to the ARM ECORs began at Argonne in mid-Janary.

2.12 G-Band (183.3 GHz) Water Vapor Radiometer

  • A system calibration was carried out in May.
  • Comparisons between measured and model-calculated brightness temperatures appear to agree well.

2.13 Global Positioning System (SuomiNet)

  • None (external data provided by SuomiNet/COSMIC) SGP -Most stations appear to be operating nominally, also known as Mentor.
  • Telecommunications problems continue to affect data availability from the SuomiNet stations: no data have been available from El Reno (E19) for several months.
  • Wireless data communication equipment has been ordered for installation at E19.
  • NSA -Operating nominally using a spare ARM met system.
  • NSA -In June 2006 University Navstar Consortium personnel installed a GPS receiver at for geodetic purposes.

2.15 In-situ Carbon Profiling

  • Margaret Torn and Sebastien Biraud, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, also known as Mentor.
  • The continuous sampling system will supplement the 12-flask system already on the aircraft, which replaced a 2-flask system deployed on the earlier Cessna 172 aircraft since 2002.

2.16 InfraRed Thermometer (IRT)

  • Vic Morris, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory InfraRed Thermometers (IRTs) have been deployed at 12 SGP extended facilities (ECO-345), operating at 5 Hz sampling rate, also known as Mentor.
  • IRTs are also part of the SKYRAD and GNDRAD systems at TWP, NSA, and AMF.
  • Higher sky temperatures were measured at E13 than both the AERI and the IRT at C1 because at low temperatures (below-60°C) the error due to the reflectance and temperature of the mirror becomes significant.
  • TWP -Data were generally good at all sites.

Improvements

  • Problems with the calibration and data processing of the MFRSRs were revealed during the ARM Lidar Validation Experient campaign (ECO-00571).
  • Old data will be reprocessed to apply corrections and the new processing algorithms.
  • STATUS -MFRSRs with refurbished sensor heads and new data loggers are now operational at E2, E5, E8, and E13.
  • Ingest processing is being finalized so data from these systems is not yet available from the Archive.

2.17.2 Establish MFRSR Calibration Facility at SGP

  • MFRSR calibration includes (1) cosine response characterization, (2) spectral bandpass characterization of the filter detectors, and (3) absolute (lamp) calibration.
  • To establish the facility, the cosine bench and related items acquired by John Schmelzer at PNNL on behalf of ACRF will be relocated to the SGP Radiometer Calibration Facility (RCF) in May.
  • Some modifications to the RCF may be necessary.
  • Additional equipment will need to be acquired, including a monochromator and computer for performing the spectral characterizations.
  • Joe Michalsky at NOAA GMD will be overseeing the task of establishing the facility as well as the routine calibrations to be performed using the facility.

2.17.3 Data Logger Replacement

  • The proprietary data loggers supplied with the MFRSRs and related instruments are to be replaced with Campbell Scientific CR1000 data loggers.
  • This will permit them to be more easily maintained.
  • It will also permit modifications to the operation of the instruments and data acquisition to be easily implemented (ECO-00350).
  • STATUS -MFRSRs with refurbished sensor heads and new data loggers are now operational at E2, E5, E8, and E13.
  • Ingest processing is being finalized so data from these systems is not yet available from the Archive.

2.18.1 MMCR Digital Transceiver Upgrade

  • This will provide new capabilities such as increased sensitivity using advanced modulation techniques and an upto-date computing platform that will be supportable for a minimum of 5 years.
  • Another significant improvement will be to provide for more robust calibration, health monitoring, and automatic notification of anomalies.
  • The plan is to accomplish this upgrade in several phases: 1) evaluation and design, 2) development and integration, and 3) testing, documentation, and training.
  • STATUS -A contract has been awarded to ProSensing to begin the design.
  • Kevin Widener met with ProSensing representatives during CLASIC at SGP in mid-June for technical discussions.

2.18.2 MMCR Processor Upgrades

  • (ECO-00283) The C40 processors are being replaced with PIRAQ-III processors.
  • STATUS -The Barrow upgrade is planned for the week of 9 July.
  • The receiver and interface have been modified.
  • LAP-XM has been installed on the radar computer; Labview code and IDL have been installed on the data management computer.

2.18.3 MMCR Spares Kit

  • The plan is to buy the parts and build a kit with most things a technician will need to service the MMCRs.
  • In addition, a radiofrequency (RF) signal generator and RF power meter will be acquired for the SGP (TWP already has these).
  • Two sets of spare PIRAQ boards will also be acquired: one set for TWP and the other set for SGP (which will also support Barrow).

2.18.5 Spare Traveling Wave Tubes

  • New TWT will be ordered to replace the TWTs originally delivered with the MMCRs, which are well beyond their rated lifetime and are beginning to fail (ECO-00425).
  • Both of the two spare TWTs ordered in the fall of 2006 have been received.
  • Because the TWTs only have a 2-year lifetime, at least one more TWT needs to be ordered this year to permit the TWT at Darwin to be replaced in November 2007.

2.18.6 MMCR Spectra Processing

  • Spectra files produced by the upgraded MMCRs (C40 or PIRAQ-III processors) range from 8 to 15 Gigabytes per day.
  • Algorithms for eliminating clear-sky periods and compressing the files need to be developed and implemented locally (ECO-00391).
  • -The compression algorithms have been implemented at SGP.

2.18.7 Refurbish MMCR Antennas

  • Beginning in 2007, over a three-year period the MMCR antennas will be refurbished and characterized on an antenna range (ECO-00551).
  • The spare antenna is complete and the contract for the new feed and subreflector has been placed.
  • Once these are complete, they will be installed on the antenna reflector and calibrated.
  • The Barrow MMCR antenna will most likely be refurbished first to avoid impacting planned IOPs and SGP.
  • STATUS -The Barrow MMCR antenna will be swapped with the spare antenna in August.

2.19 Micro-Pulse Lidar (MPL)

  • Rich Coulter, Argonne National Laboratory AMF, also known as Mentor.
  • Timing problems prevented successful operation until June when a work-around was developed (using 1994 range bins rather than the normal 1999).
  • This system does not exhibit the thin, false cloud layers that plagued the previous system, which has been returned to Sigma Space for inspection and repair.
  • The new MPL at Nauru continues operating nominally.
  • SGP/B5 -#12 installed for CLASIC SGP/B6 -#15 has been installed temporarily at Chickasha, OK for CLASIC.

2.21 MicroWave Radiometer Profiller (MWRP)

  • Maria Cadeddu, Argonne National Laboratory AMF -The K-band (22-30 GHz) calibrations were updated on 11 May, also known as Mentor.
  • The V-band (51-59 GHz) channels are in good agreement with model computations.
  • NSA -The K-band calibrations were updated on 10 May.
  • Discussions with Radiometrics confirmed a hardware problem is the likely cause.
  • The instrument will need to be returned to Radiometrics for repair.

2.22 Narrow Field of View Radiometer (NFOV)

  • The 2-channel NFOV radiometer has been installed at Heselbach.
  • The 1-channel NFOV will be removed from service at the end of June.

2.25.1 Upgrade to Digital Receivers

  • The four 915 MHz RWPs at the SGP are now 9-13 years old and are exhibiting increasingly frequent, strange, and expensive-to-repair failures.
  • Due to the age of these systems, parts are increasingly difficult to obtain.
  • Vaisala offers an upgrade for these systems that will replace the present interface, receiver and computer (including DSP board) with new components and will include the latest version of LAPXM, the operating system.
  • The systems at SGP/CF and SGP/I3 have been upgraded.

STATUS -

  • The upgrade for the NSA system and the remaining two SGP systems have been ordered.
  • The final amplifier from the NSA system has been removed and sent to Vaisala in preparation for the upgrade.

2.26 Radar Wind Profiler (RWP) -50 MHz

  • In January 2006 the 50 MHz RWP at the SGP ceased transmitting.
  • The transmitter was returned to ATRAD in Australia for diagnosis and repair.
  • After reinstalling the transmitter the output power was still zero.
  • In May 2007 the transmitter has been shipped to Vaisala for diagnosis.

2.27 Soil Water and Temperature System (SWATS)

  • John Harris, University of Oklahoma Data are OK for most sites in April, also known as Mentor.
  • New sensor arrays installed at E13, E19, and E20 last year will be activated after CLASIC concludes.

2.27.1 Replace In-Ground Sensor Arrays

  • New redundant sensor arrays will be installed at all SGP EF sites.
  • These will be installed in a phased manner: 5 sites per year over the 4 years beginning in 2005 with the sites having multiple failed sensors given highest priority.
  • After the soil recovers from the installation process in 6-12 months, the new sensor array will be connected to the existing SWATS data acquisition system in place of the old sensor array (ECO-00493).
  • -The new sensor arrays installed in May 2006 at E13, E19, and E20 will be connected after CLASIC concludes.
  • Sensors for five more sites have been calibrated and will be installed after CLASIC concludes.

2.28 Shortwave Spectrometer (SWS)

  • As expected, increasing solar elevation angles result in greater radiance values recorded by the narrow field of view, zenith looking SWS.
  • These increased signal levels did not saturate the SWS sensors in May; the mentor continues to monitor this.

2.29 Surface Meteorological Instrumentation (SMET, SMOS, SURTHREF, THWAPS, MET, ORG, PWS)

  • Mike Ritsche, Argonne National Laboratory AMF (MET, ORG) -Operating nominally, also known as Mentor.
  • NSA -Icing continues to be a problem with the wind direction sensors: ice accumulates on the vane and causes the direction measurements to become sluggish (standard deviations at or near zero).
  • A complete re-calibration was done in May, but this failed to resolve the problems.
  • SGP (SMOS) -All systems are operating nominally but with data gaps at E5 and E8.

2.29.1 Develop Dynamic Rain Gauge Calibration Facility

  • The tipping bucket rain gauges at the 15 SGP/EF sites with SMOS are currently calibrated using only a "static" calibration: a measured volume of water is poured into the gauge and the number of bucket tips is checked to ensure they correspond.
  • In reality, as the rain rate increases and the bucket tips more frequently some rain is not collected.
  • The purpose of the dynamic calibration is to determine the correction factor as a function of rain rate to account for this behavior (ECO-00495).
  • STATUS -Calibrations have been carried out for all SMOS tipping-bucket gauges.

2.29.2 Upgrade T/RH Probes and Wind Sensors for NSA Met Systems

  • Ice develops on the wind vanes, cup anemoneters, and aspirator inlets for the temperature and relative humidity sensors, which clog and affect the data quality.
  • To alleviate these problems the mentor has proposed to replace the wind speed and direction sensors at NSA (both Barrow and Atqasuk) with sonic anemometers, and to replace the temperature and relative humidity probes with new, heated probes designed to operate in cold environments (ECO-00595).

2.30 Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (TDMA)

  • Don Collins, Texas A&M University Data from the TDMA are currently acquired and processed by Don Collins, also known as Mentor.
  • Processed data are then delivered to ACRF on a monthly basis and stored in the IOP area of the Archive as "beta-data.".
  • An ingest is being developed to produce netcdf files for inclusion in the main Archive (ECO-00587).

2.31 Hot Plate Total Precipitation Sensor (TPS)

  • Mark Ivey, Sandia National Laboratory Yankee Environmental Sciences provided a firmware upgrade to address the anomalous precipitation problem reported previously, also known as Mentor.
  • Initial inspection of the data suggests that anomalous precipitation events continue to occur.
  • Dick Eagan is preparing a wireless link so the TPS can be returned to its permanent location in proximity to the NOAA CRN weighing snow gauge south of the NOAA GMD facility.
  • Sutenay Choudhury has developed a data visualization application for the instrument laptop.
  • Dana Truffer-Moudra started this work and presented results of her analyses at the Monterrey Science Team Meeting.

3.1 Future Microwave Radiometers

  • The 2-channel MWRs range between 8-15 years old.
  • The workshop will be held in November, just prior to the joint meeting of the Cloud Properties and Cloud Modeling Working Groups.

3.2 ARM Program Volume-Imaging Array (AVA)

  • The ARM Volume-Imaging Array (AVA) is a proposed radar system to be deployed at the ARM SGP site to address the ARM program's need of mapping 3D cloud and precipitation structures at short to medium ranges (i.e., 20-75 km).
  • The AVA system will provide time-resolved 3D precipitation fields, domain-averaged rainfall rate, cloud coverage throughout a volume, cloud-top heights, hydrometeor phase information (using polarization), horizontal and vertical variability of clouds and precipitation, and low-level convergence and divergence using dual-Doppler techniques.
  • Principal elements of the AVA proposal prepared by Pavlos Kolias include: Three networked scanning radars arranged in a triangle with 20-30 km legs: one operating at 35 GHz (same 8.6-mm wavelength as the MMCR) and capable of scanning the vertical region probed by the current MMCR, and two radars operating at 9.4 GHz (3.2-cm wavelength, so-called "X-band").
  • All three radars will be transportable, scanning, polarimetric and Doppler.
  • STATUS -Consideration of the AVA, as such, has been deferred until 2008 when simulations have been carried out to demonstrate its capabilities and further refine its requirements.

3.3 Absolute Scanning Radiometer

  • To provide an absolute IR flux reference, which could be used to calibrate the Eppley PIRs, Ells Dutton has suggested that ARM develop an Absolute Scanning Radiometer (ASR).
  • This instrument would be functionally equivalent to an ASR developed by Rolf Philipona for the WMO.
  • This instrument would not be used for routine data acquisition, but instead would provide a calibration reference.
  • As such it would participate in WMO inter-comparisons at Davos, Switzerland every five years.
  • Based on the published description, Rough Order of Magnitude cost estimates have been received from several interested organizations.

3.5 High-Resolution Oxygen A-Band and Water-Band Spectrometer

  • Qilong Min has submitted a proposal to build an A-band spectrometer for ARM.
  • The 3-year proposal and budget were sent out for technical reviews.
  • The Science Team Executive Committee directed Qilong to present his plan and budget to the Cloud Properties working group at their November 2005 meeting for prioritization.
  • Qilong presented a revised work plan (water-band/cloud phase components removed) and has submitted a revised budget.
  • STATUS -At the 2007 ARM Science Team Meeting in Monterey Anthony Davis organized a discussion of the need for and possible approaches to providing A-band measurements at an ACRF field site.

3.6 Rotating Shadowband Spectrometer Overhaul

  • Peter Kiedron has demonstrated that the RSS built by YES is capable of providing valuable measurements of direct, diffuse, and global spectral irradiance.
  • Peter has also identified problems with the RSS that affect the stability of its calibration and the linearity of its response.
  • Peter has recommended that the RSS be removed from service and sent to him at SUNY-Albany for a complete overhaul.

3.7 Add 1.6 :m Channel to Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer and Narrow Field of View

  • Alexander Marshak has recommended that ARM support the development of a NFOV radiometer at 1.6 µm to permit the retrieval of droplet size distribution.
  • Andy Lacis and colleagues have suggested a 1.6 µm channel be substituted for the unfiltered channel in the MFRSR.
  • Because the unfiltered channel is now being used in a broadband radiometer best estimate Value-Added Procedure (VAP) for quality checking purposes, only a limited number of MFRSRs would be modified to accept a 1.6 μm channel.

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Content maybe subject to copyright    Report

DOE/SC-ARM/P-07-002.6
ACRF Instrumentation Status:
New, Current, and Future
June 2007
James Liljegren
ACRF Instrument Team Coordinator
Work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy,
Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research

Summary
The purpose of this report is to provide a concise but comprehensive overview of Atmospheric Radiation
Measurement Program Climate Research Facility instrumentation status. The report is divided into four
sections: (1) new instrumentation in the process of being acquired and deployed, (2) existing
instrumentation and progress on improvements or upgrades, (3) proposed future instrumentation, and
(4) Small Business Innovation Research instrument development. New information is highlighted in
blue text.
iii


June 2007, DOE/SC-ARM/P-07-002.6
Contents
1 New Instrumentation........................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Thin Cloud Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (TC-RSR) for LWP, r
eff
, and τ
cloud
.................. 1
1.2 Optical Rain Gauge for SGP ..................................................................................................... 1
1.3 183 GHz Microwave Radiometer.............................................................................................. 1
1.4 High-Frequency (90/150 GHz) Microwave Radiometer........................................................... 1
1.5 Infrared Sky Imager................................................................................................................... 2
1.6 Add Multi-Filter Radiometers to Cessna 206............................................................................ 2
1.7 DigiCORA-III for Manus, Nauru .............................................................................................. 2
2 Existing Instrumentation .....................................................................................................................3
2.1 Atmospherically Emitted Radiance Interferometer................................................................... 3
2.1.1 Windows and Rapid-Sampling Upgrade...................................................................... 3
2.2 Aerosol Observing System........................................................................................................ 4
2.3 Balloon-Borne Sound System ................................................................................................... 4
2.3.1 Make ARM -Barrow Soundings Available to the Global
Telecommunication System ......................................................................................... 4
2.4 Broadband Radiometers (SIRS, SKYRAD, GNDRAD, BRS) ................................................. 4
2.4.1 Pyrgeometer Calibration Improvements ...................................................................... 4
2.4.2 Radiometer Calibration Facility Data Acquisition System Replacement ....................5
2.5 Carbon Dioxide Flux System (CO
2
FLX) .................................................................................. 5
2.6 Carbon Monoxide System (CO)................................................................................................ 5
2.7 CO
2
(Precision Gas) System (PGS)........................................................................................... 5
2.8 Cimel Sun Photometer............................................................................................................... 5
2.8.1 Internet Data Transfer .................................................................................................. 6
2.9 Disdrometer............................................................................................................................... 6
2.10 Energy Balance Bowen Ratio Station ....................................................................................... 6
2.11 Eddy Correlation Station ........................................................................................................... 6
2.11.1 Add Wetness Sensors ................................................................................................... 7
2.12 G-Band (183.3 GHz) Water Vapor Radiometer........................................................................ 7
2.13 Global Positioning System (SuomiNet) .................................................................................... 7
2.14 In-situ Aerosol Profiling (IAP).................................................................................................. 7
2.15 In-situ Carbon Profiling............................................................................................................. 8
2.16 InfraRed Thermometer (IRT).................................................................................................... 8
2.17 Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer and Related Systems (MFR, GNDMFR,
NIMFR)..................................................................................................................................... 8
2.17.1 Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer Calibration and Data Processing
Improvements............................................................................................................... 9
2.17.2 Establish MFRSR Calibration Facility at SGP.............................................................9
2.17.3 Data Logger Replacement ............................................................................................ 9
2.18 Millimeter Cloud Radar (MMCR)............................................................................................. 9
2.18.1 MMCR Digital Transceiver Upgrade......................................................................... 10
2.18.2 MMCR Processor Upgrades....................................................................................... 10
2.18.3 MMCR Spares Kit...................................................................................................... 10
2.18.4 Add Polarization at Barrow........................................................................................ 10
2.18.5 Spare Traveling Wave Tubes ..................................................................................... 11
v

June 2007, DOE/SC-ARM/P-07-002.6
2.18.6 MMCR Spectra Processing ........................................................................................ 11
2.18.7 Refurbish MMCR Antennas.......................................................................................11
2.18.8 Radome or Radome Dryer..........................................................................................11
2.19 Micro-Pulse Lidar.................................................................................................................... 11
2.19.1 Modify MPL Polarization Switching and Data Acquisition ...................................... 12
2.20 MicroWave Radiometer .......................................................................................................... 12
2.21 MicroWave Radiometer Profiller ............................................................................................ 13
2.22 Narrow Field of View Radiometer (NFOV) ........................................................................... 13
2.23 Raman Lidar............................................................................................................................ 13
2.24 Rotating Shadowband Spectrometer ....................................................................................... 13
2.25 Radar Wind Profiler – 915, 1290 MHz ................................................................................... 14
2.25.1 Upgrade to Digital Receivers ..................................................................................... 14
2.26 Radar Wind Profiler – 50 MHz ............................................................................................... 14
2.27 Soil Water and Temperature System....................................................................................... 14
2.27.1 Replace In-Ground Sensor Arrays ............................................................................. 14
2.28 Shortwave Spectrometer (SWS).............................................................................................. 15
2.29 Surface Meteorological Instrumentation (SMET, SMOS, SURTHREF, THWAPS, MET,
ORG, PWS)............................................................................................................................. 15
2.29.1 Develop Dynamic Rain Gauge Calibration Facility...................................................15
2.29.2 Upgrade T/RH Probes and Wind Sensors for NSA Met Systems.............................. 16
2.30 Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer.................................................................................. 16
2.31 Hot Plate Total Precipitation Sensor (TPS)............................................................................. 16
2.32 Total Sky Imager ..................................................................................................................... 16
2.33 Meteorological Tower Systems............................................................................................... 17
2.34 Vaisala Ceilmeter .................................................................................................................... 17
2.35 W-band (95 GHz) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program Cloud Radar ................... 17
2.35.1 Study Network Transfer of MMCR and WACR Spectra to Archive......................... 17
3 Future Instrumentation Planning....................................................................................................... 18
3.1 Future Microwave Radiometers .............................................................................................. 18
3.2 Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program Volume-Imaging Array................................ 18
3.3 Absolute Scanning Radiometer ............................................................................................... 19
3.4 Portable Raman Lidar.............................................................................................................. 19
3.5 High-Resolution Oxygen A-Band and Water-Band Spectrometer.......................................... 19
3.6 Rotating Shadowband Spectrometer Overhaul ....................................................................... 19
3.7 Add 1.6 :m Channel to Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer and
Narrow Field of View.............................................................................................................. 20
3.8 Aerosol Particle Sizing Spectrometer to Replace Optical Particle Counter at Southern
Great Plains ............................................................................................................................. 20
3.9 Aerosol Particle Sizing Spectrometer (APS) to Replace Optical Particle Counter (OPC)
at SGP .................................................................................................................................... 20
3.10 Infrared Thermometers for the Southern Great Plains Extended Facility Sites ...................... 20
vi

References
More filters
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: A review of cloud-climate feedbacks can be found in this paper, where it is argued that cloud feedbacks are likely to control the bulk precipitation efficiency and associated responses of the planet's hydrological cycle to climate radiative forcings.
Abstract: This paper offers a critical review of the topic of cloud–climate feedbacks and exposes some of the underlying reasons for the inherent lack of understanding of these feedbacks and why progress might be expected on this important climate problem in the coming decade. Although many processes and related parameters come under the influence of clouds, it is argued that atmospheric processes fundamentally govern the cloud feedbacks via the relationship between the atmospheric circulations, cloudiness, and the radiative and latent heating of the atmosphere. It is also shown how perturbations to the atmospheric radiation budget that are induced by cloud changes in response to climate forcing dictate the eventual response of the global-mean hydrological cycle of the climate model to climate forcing. This suggests that cloud feedbacks are likely to control the bulk precipitation efficiency and associated responses of the planet’s hydrological cycle to climate radiative forcings. The paper provides a brief overview of the effects of clouds on the radiation budget of the earth– atmosphere system and a review of cloud feedbacks as they have been defined in simple systems, one being a system in radiative–convective equilibrium (RCE) and others relating to simple feedback ideas that regulate tropical SSTs. The systems perspective is reviewed as it has served as the basis for most feedback analyses. What emerges is the importance of being clear about the definition of the system. It is shown how different assumptions about the system produce very different conclusions about the magnitude and sign of feedbacks. Much more diligence is called for in terms of defining the system and justifying assumptions. In principle, there is also neither any theoretical basis to justify the system that defines feedbacks in terms of global–time-mean changes in surface temperature nor is there any compelling empirical evidence to do so. The lack of maturity of feedback analysis methods also suggests that progress in understanding climate feedback will require development of alternative methods of analysis. It has been argued that, in view of the complex nature of the climate system, and the cumbersome problems encountered in diagnosing feedbacks, understanding cloud feedback will be gleaned neither from observations nor proved from simple theoretical argument alone. The blueprint for progress must follow a more arduous path that requires a carefully orchestrated and systematic combination of model and observations. Models provide the tool for diagnosing processes and quantifying feedbacks while observations provide the essential test of the model’s credibility in representing these processes. While GCM climate and NWP models represent the most complete description of all the interactions between the processes that presumably establish the main cloud feedbacks, the weak link in the use of these models lies in the cloud parameterization imbedded in them. Aspects of these parameterizations remain worrisome, containing levels of empiricism and assumptions that are hard to evaluate with current global observations. Clearly observationally based methods for evaluating cloud parameterizations are an important element in the road map to progress. Although progress in understanding the cloud feedback problem has been slow and confused by past analysis, there are legitimate reasons outlined in the paper that give hope for real progress in the future.

789 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used a neural network trained on three parameters fit to the time series of each detector to predict the extinction at four volume-averaging scales, the cloud geometric thickness, and the optical depth at four averaging scales.
Abstract: Due to the spatially inhomogeneous nature of clouds there are large uncertainties in validating remote sensing retrievals of cloud properties with traditional in situ cloud probes, which have sampling volumes measured in liters. This paper introduces a new technique called in situ cloud lidar, which can measure extinction in liquid clouds with sampling volumes of millions of cubic meters. In this technique a laser sends out pulses of light horizontally from an aircraft inside an optically thick cloud, and wide-field-of-view detectors viewing upward and downward measure the time series of the number of photons returned. Diffusion theory calculations indicate that the expected in situ lidar time series depends on the extinction and has a functional form of a power law times an exponential, with the exponential scale depending on the distance to the cloud boundary. Simulations of 532-nm wavelength in situ lidar time series are made with a Monte Carlo radiative transfer model in stochastically generated inhomogeneous stratocumulus clouds. Retrieval simulations are performed using a neural network trained on three parameters fit to the time series of each detector to predict 1) the extinction at four volume-averaging scales, 2) the cloud geometric thickness, and 3) the optical depth at four averaging scales. Even with an assumed 20% lidar calibration error the rms extinction and optical depth retrieval accuracy is only 12%. Simulations with a dual wavelength lidar (532 and 1550 nm) give accurate retrievals of liquid water content and effective radius. The results of a mountain-top demonstration of the in situ lidar technique show the expected power-law time series behavior.

30 citations

Frequently Asked Questions (16)
Q1. Why is the installation of the orthomode transducer at Barrow on hold?

Because the PIRAQ processor does not support polarization, the installation of the orthomode transducer at Barrow is on hold until the next processor upgrade. 

Because the under-filled balloons have slower ascent rates and break at higher altitudes, the median FKB sounding did reach almost 25 km, however. 

Because the unfiltered channel is now being used in a broadband radiometer best estimate Value-Added Procedure (VAP) for quality checking purposes, only a limited number of MFRSRs would be modified to accept a 1.6 μm channel. 

An infrared (IR) sky imager from Blue Sky Imaging (http://www.aas.org/career/bluesky.html) was deployed at SGP in September 2005 to provide nighttime cloud cover measurements (ECO-00429). 

The continuous sampling system will supplement the 12-flask system already on the aircraft, which replaced a 2-flask system deployed on the earlier Cessna 172 aircraft since 2002. 

NSA (METTWR) – Icing continues to be a problem with the wind direction sensors: ice accumulates on the vane and causes the direction measurements to become sluggish (standard deviations at or near zero). 

These will be installed in a phased manner: 5 sites per year over the 4 years beginning in 2005 with the sites having multiple failed sensors14June 2007, DOE/SC-ARM/P-07-002.6given highest priority. 

A new set of fluid dispersion manifolds (perforated annuli) has been developed to reduce the temperature gradients in the blackbody. 

Twelve SGP EF sites are currently equipped with IRTs; 10 additional IRTs would be needed to permit an IRT to be deployed at all 22 SGP extended facilities. 

Ogren has suggested replacing the aging Optical Particle Counter included in the SGP AOS with a new Aerosol Particle Sizing Spectrometer to be integrated into the existing TDMA. 

NSA – Out of service: the final amplifier has been removed and sent to Vaisala in preparation for the planned upgrade to new hardware, LAPXM software, and a new computer. 

An optical rain gauge will be acquired for the Southern Great Plains (SGP) for use with the Atmospheric Remotely Sensed Cloud Boundaries (ARSCL) value-added procedure (VAP). 

Joe Michalsky at NOAA GMD will be overseeing the task of establishing the facility as well as the routine calibrations to be performed using the facility. 

As expected, increasing solar elevation angles result in greater radiance values recorded by the narrow field of view, zenith looking SWS. 

The proprietary data loggers supplied with the MFRSRs and related instruments are to be replaced with Campbell Scientific CR1000 data loggers. 

Additional equipment will need to be acquired, including a monochromator and computer for performing the spectral characterizations.