NSA/SKYRAD/C1 - itermittant IRT bias

A problem with the SKYRAD IRT that itermittantly produced a gradual increase in the sky 
temperature measurement then a sudden correction, as compared to AERI, appears to have been 
caused by a combination of a failing IR detector, a poor signal cable, a contaminated 
(with condensation or frost) mirror or lens, and low ambient temperatures. The positive 
bias was apparently not consistant in either frequency or duration but on days when the 
unusual behavior is observed, it usually occurred from about 00:00 to 06:00 local time. 

The instrument was repaired and recalibrated and the signal cable replaced.

• sky_ir_temp_min
• sky_ir_temp_std
• sky_ir_temp_max
• Temperature, Sky Infra-Red(sky_ir_temp)

NSA/SKYRAD/C1 - Datalogger grounding problem

Both PIRs reported unreasonable high readings with coincident low reading from the IRT. 
Since both PIR instruments exhibited exactly the same behaviour and the IRT an opposite 
response during large suspect data excursions this indicates that the false signal maybe the 
result of poor grounding. 

The PIR1,2 data and the IRT data are most adversely affected.  During the problem periods 
PIR irradiance increased (typ pos 200-300W/m2) while the IRT response was negative (typ 
neg 20-30W/m2) but followed the response of the PIR.  The Skyrad shortwave instruments 
were also affected but to much less extent (within their uncertainties).  Data quality flags 
are typically not triggered during these problem periods.

Data logger grounding was improved on 6/10 2005.  The problem hasn't re-occurred since 
that time.

• Raw data stream - documentation not supported

• down_long_hemisp_shaded2_std
• psps_mean
• alt
• Downwelling Shortwave Diffuse Hemisp. Irrad., Ventilated Pyranometer, Minima(down_short_diffuse_hemisp_min)
• uvb_mean
• nip_min
• down_long_hemisp_shaded1_max
• short_direct_normal_std
• Downwelling Longwave Hemispheric Irrad., Shaded Ventilated Pyrgeometer, Minima(down_long_hemisp_shaded_min)
• Downwelling Longwave Hemispheric Irradiance, Unshaded Pyrgeometer, Minima(down_long_hemisp_unshaded_min)
• Downwelling Longwave Hemispheric Irradiance, Unshaded Pyrgeometer, Maxima(down_long_hemisp_unshaded_max)
• psp1_min
• psp1_max
• Downwelling Shortwave Diffuse Hemisp. Irrad., Ventilated Pyranometer, Maxima(down_short_diffuse_hemisp_max)
• nip_max
• sky_ir_temp_std
• base_time
• uvb_min
• down_uvb_std
• external_voltage
• Shortwave Direct Normal Irradiance, Pyrheliometer, Minima(short_direct_normal_min)
• nip_mean
• Downwelling Ultra-Violet Irradiance, UV Biometer, Maxima(down_uvb_max)
• uvb_sd
• uvb_max
• pirs_sd
• Temperature, Sky Infra-Red(sky_ir_temp)
• psp1_sd
• Radiation, shortwave, downwelling total hemispheric irradiance, 1-min avg(down_short_hemisp)
• Downwelling Longwave Hemispheric Irradiance, Unshaded Pyrgeometer(down_long_hemisp_unshaded)
• nip_sd
• lon
• Downwelling Ultra-Violet Irradiance, UV Biometer, Minima(down_uvb_min)
• internal_voltage
• Downwelling Longwave Hemispheric Irradiance, Shaded Ventilated Pyrgeometer(down_long_hemisp_shaded)
• down_long_hemisp_shaded_std
• irt1_sd
• Radiation, shortwave, direct normal irradiance, 1-min avg(short_direct_normal)
• pir1_max
• down_long_hemisp_shaded1_min
• down_long_hemisp_unshaded_std
• sky_ir_temp_min
• sky_ir_temp_max
• psps_min
• down_long_hemisp_shaded2_max
• pirs_mean
• logger_temp
• pirs_min
• pir1_sd
• pirs_max
• psps_sd
• down_short_diffuse_hemisp_std
• pir1_mean
• psp1_mean
• Downwelling Ultra-Violet Irradiance, UV Biometer(down_uvb)
• Shortwave Direct Normal Irradiance, Pyrheliometer, Maxima(short_direct_normal_max)
• irt1_mean
• lat
• Radiation, shortwave, downwelling diffuse hemispheric irradiance, 1-min avg(down_short_diffuse_hemisp)
• Downwelling Shortwave Hemispheric Irradiance, Ventilated Pyranometer, Maxima(down_short_hemisp_max)
• Downwelling Shortwave Hemispheric Irradiance, Ventilated Pyranometer, Minima(down_short_hemisp_min)
• down_short_hemisp_std
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, shaded pyrgeometer1(down_long_hemisp_shaded1)
• irt1_min
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, shaded pyrgeometer2(down_long_hemisp_shaded2)
• bit_data
• time_offset
• irt1_max
• filename
• Downwelling Longwave Hemispheric Irrad., Shaded Ventilated Pyrgeometer, Maxima(down_long_hemisp_shaded_max)
• down_long_hemisp_shaded2_min
• pir1_min
• psps_max
• down_long_hemisp_shaded1_std

• inst_down_long_unshaded_case_resist
• pir2_uncorr_irradiance
• base_time
• inst_down_uvb_temp
• inst_down_long_shaded2_dome_resist
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, thermopile (Shaded Pyrgeometer2)(inst_down_long_hemisp_unshaded_tp)
• inst_down_long_shaded2_case_resist
• lat
• pir1_uncorr_irradiance
• pir1_case_therm
• alt
• lon
• inst_down_long_unshaded_dome_resist
• filename
• pir2_dome_therm
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, thermopile (Shaded Pyrgeometer1)(inst_down_long_hemisp_shaded_tp)
• Irradiance, ultraviolet, downwelling (UV Biometer)(inst_down_uvb_irradiance)
• time_offset
• inst_down_long_shaded_dome_resist
• inst_down_long_shaded1_case_resist
• inst_down_long_shaded_case_resist
• uvb_temp
• inst_down_long_shaded1_dome_resist
• uvb_uncorr_irradiance
• pir2_case_therm
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, thermopile (Shaded Pyrgeometer2)(inst_down_long_hemisp_shaded2_tp)
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, thermopile (Shaded Pyrgeometer1)(inst_down_long_hemisp_shaded1_tp)
• pir1_dome_therm

• inst_sky_ir_signal
• inst_down_long_shaded2_case_resist
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, thermopile (Shaded Pyrgeometer1)(inst_down_long_hemisp_shaded1_tp)
• inst_global
• alt
• time_offset
• inst_down_long_shaded1_case_resist
• inst_down_long_shaded1_dome_resist
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, thermopile (Shaded Pyrgeometer2)(inst_down_long_hemisp_shaded2_tp)
• inst_down_long_shaded2_dome_resist
• inst_diffuse
• lat
• base_time
• inst_direct_normal
• time
• lon

NSA/SKYRAD/C1 - Reprocess: Incorrect datalogger program affecting PIR1 and PIR2 
downwelling longwave

The excitation delays using in measuring the PIR1 case thermistor commonly named "Case1" 
and the PIR2 dome thermistor called "Dome2" were discovered to have been incorrectly set 
to 0 in the Skyrad datalogger program when the new CR23X based Skyrad loggers were 
installed.  The result of no delay in these measurements results in an error in the measured 
resistance of the thermistors, Case1 and Dome2 and thus the calculated PIR1 and PIR2 
irradiances.  The errors are inversely proportial to temperature.

Users can apply the temperature dependent irradiance corrections shown in the table below. 
 Recall that the reported uncertainty of PIRs is typically +-.25% to +-.5% or 1 to 2 
W/m2.  The error corrections become the same order of magnitude or larger than the 
instrument uncertainties at or below 260K or 9F. 

Correction Table for Skyrad (TWP and NSA) DIR1 and DIR2 Irradiance				
	DIR1	DIR1	DIR2	DIR2
T[F]	Tcase[K]	Correction[W/m2]	Tdome[K]	Correction[W/m2]
109.4	316.13	0.00	316.13	0.00
100.5	311.20	-0.15	311.20	0.12
93.2	307.14	-0.12	307.14	0.10
87.0	303.70	-0.10	303.70	0.08
81.6	300.70	-0.17	300.70	0.14
77.0	298.15	-0.22	298.15	0.18
59.4	288.35	-0.34	288.35	0.27
47.4	281.72	-0.23	281.72	0.18
38.5	276.74	-0.42	276.74	0.34
31.3	272.77	-0.48	272.77	0.38
25.4	269.48	-0.61	269.48	0.49
20.3	266.67	-0.67	266.67	0.54
16.0	264.25	-0.82	264.25	0.66
12.1	262.11	-0.98	262.11	0.79
8.7	260.19	-0.97	260.19	0.78
5.6	258.46	-1.07	258.46	0.86
2.7	256.89	-1.17	256.89	0.94
0.1	255.44	-1.33	255.44	1.07
-2.3	254.11	-1.41	254.11	1.13
-4.5	252.87	-1.43	252.87	1.15
-6.6	251.71	-1.52	251.71	1.22
-8.5	250.63	-1.63	250.63	1.31
-10.4	249.62	-1.73	249.62	1.39
-12.2	248.58	-1.79	248.58	1.44
-15.4	246.82	-1.93	246.82	1.55
-18.3	245.23	-2.05	245.23	1.65
-20.9	243.78	-2.22	243.78	1.78
-23.3	242.44	-2.36	242.44	1.89
-25.5	241.21	-2.58	241.21	2.07
-27.5	240.07	-2.65	240.07	2.13
-29.5	239.01	-2.75	239.01	2.21
-31.3	238.00	-3.02	238.00	2.42

• down_long_hemisp_shaded2_std
• down_long_hemisp_shaded2_min
• down_long_hemisp_shaded2_max
• down_long_hemisp_shaded1_max
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, shaded pyrgeometer1(down_long_hemisp_shaded1)
• down_long_hemisp_shaded1_std
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, shaded pyrgeometer2(down_long_hemisp_shaded2)
• down_long_hemisp_shaded1_min

• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, thermopile (Shaded Pyrgeometer1)(inst_down_long_hemisp_shaded1_tp)
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, thermopile (Shaded Pyrgeometer2)(inst_down_long_hemisp_shaded2_tp)
• inst_down_long_shaded1_case_resist
• inst_down_long_shaded2_dome_resist
• inst_down_long_shaded2_case_resist
• inst_down_long_shaded1_dome_resist

NSA/SKYRAD/C1 - Reprocess: Longwave Calibration error

Modified pyrgeometer calibration procedures were implemented beginning in December 2003.  
These modified procedures introduced a calibration bias in the longwave data.  The 
previous procedures were re-implemented at all sites between December 2005 and February 2006 to 
restore proper calibrations.                                                             
                The data collected while the incorrect procedures were in place are 
being reprocessing to remove the calibration bias.  Note, this also affected standard 
deviation, maximum and minimum data fields.

• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, shaded pyrgeometer1(down_long_hemisp_shaded1)
• Irradiance, longwave, downwelling, hemispheric, shaded pyrgeometer2(down_long_hemisp_shaded2)

NSA/SKYRAD/C1 - Summer solstice shading of radiometers

On and around the summer solstice, the NIP (Direct Normal shortwave measurement) and PSP 
(global hemispheic shortwave measurement) radiometers are shaded by other instruments or 
support structures.  Shading azimuths have been determined for this site.  The radiometer 
mentor suggests not using the data from the NIP and PSP radiometers when the sun is 
within the following azimuth bounds (typically from May 8th to August 5th of each year):
Instrmt Obstruction     AzStart     AzEnd     
NIP     rad table       346         358
NIP     met tower       13          15
PSP     mfrsr           6           16

• psps_sd
• psp1_sd
• Radiation, shortwave, downwelling total hemispheric irradiance, 1-min avg(down_short_hemisp)
• psps_mean
• psps_min
• Downwelling Shortwave Hemispheric Irradiance, Ventilated Pyranometer, Maxima(down_short_hemisp_max)
• nip_sd
• Downwelling Shortwave Hemispheric Irradiance, Ventilated Pyranometer, Minima(down_short_hemisp_min)
• psp1_min
• psp1_max
• Shortwave Direct Normal Irradiance, Pyrheliometer, Minima(short_direct_normal_min)
• nip_mean
• Radiation, shortwave, direct normal irradiance, 1-min avg(short_direct_normal)
• nip_min
• psps_max
• nip_max
• psp1_mean
• down_short_hemisp_std
• short_direct_normal_std
• Shortwave Direct Normal Irradiance, Pyrheliometer, Maxima(short_direct_normal_max)