The World Radiation Monitoring Center (WRMC) is the central archive of the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN). All radiation measurements are stored together with collocated surface and upper-air meteorological observations and station metadata in an integrated database. These pages offer both: Information for all scientists who will use BSRN-data as well as information to any station scientist who delivers data. BSRN is a project of the Data and Assessments Panel from the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) under the umbrella of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and as such is aimed at detecting important changes in the Earth’s radiation field at the Earth’s surface which may be related to climate changes. The data are of primary importance in supporting the validation and confirmation of satellite and computer model estimates of these quantities. At a small number of stations (currently 74 in total, 58 active) in contrasting climatic zones, covering a latitude range from 80°N to 90°S (see station maps), solar and atmospheric radiation is measured with instruments of the highest available accuracy and with high time resolution (1 to 3 minutes). In 2004 the BSRN was designated as the global baseline network for surface radiation for the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). The BSRN stations also contribute to the Global Atmospheric Watch (GAW). Since 2011 the BSRN and the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) have reached a formal agreement to become cooperative networks.
