BSRN is a project of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and the Global Energy and Water Experiment (GEWEX). This project aims at detecting changes in the Earth's radiation field at the Earth's surface that may be related to climate change. The data are of primary importance for the validation and evaluation of satellite and model estimates of radiative quantities. At a small number of stations (currently about 40) in contrasting climatic zones, covering a latitude range from 80°N to 90°S (see station map), solar and atmospheric radiation is measured with instruments of the highest available accuracy and with high time resolution (1 to 3 minutes). BSRN was recently (early 2004) designated as the global baseline network for surface radiation for the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS).

The radiation site in Cabauw (51.97°N, 4.93°E) is part of BSRN since 2005. The key quantities measured in Cabauw are:

• Direct, diffuse and global irradiance
• Downward longwave irradiance
• Upward shortwave and longwave irradiance
• Narrowband direct irradiance (for Aerosol Optical Depth, AOD)
  
• Narrowband diffuse and global irradiance (MFRSR)
• UV-A/B irradiance
• Sky temperature (Nubiscope)
• Total sky images
• Sunshine duration
  

BSRN data are archived at the World Radiation Monitoring Center (WRMC) which is hosted by the Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung (AWI) in Bremerhaven, Germany.

Actual and past measurements of the basic radiation components and state variables for BSRN Cabauw can be viewed by clicking on the panel below (works best for recent browser versions).