Climate

Operators and scientists are trained through courses, workshops and hands-on training sessions. The training enables the operators and scientists to be introduced into the
measurement guidelines/SOPs, QA/QC criteria and control, as well as all basics in technical issues, such as installation and maintenance of the instruments.

ACTRIS variable-specific analysis tools will be developed and updated to monitor the instrumentation performance at NFs and will facilitate the development of near-real-time data products.

This activity disseminates the knowledge of the CAIS/ECAC to the stakeholders. The knowledge transfer includes education and training activities organized by the CAIS/ECAC and different units.

Following the development of the field (research organizations, private companies) and evaluates the new techniques, whether they could i) replace some of the existing technologies that are used to measure ACTRIS in-situ aerosol variables, ii) improve the capacity of aerosol in-situ observations, iii) be technologically developed enough for network scale operation.

The access to the centralized processing system allows the users to retrieve aerosol optical properties profiles using the same processing chain implemented within ACTRIS.

Provision of space and infrastructure to test new instruments. Performance,  accuracy, stability and calibration procedures can be assessed by comparing them to established and well-characterized instruments. This service is proposed to NFs and ACTRIS users.

Consultancy on Doppler cloud radars and microwave radiometers to the NFs that would like to have new observational or exploratory platforms, and new instruments. Based on its experience, the TC provides consultancy during visits,  discussions, workshops and supports to the manufacturers. The TC is proposing :
• A service for instrument location definition and site selection support;
• A draft of technical requirements and standard operational support;
• A methodology to analyze instrument performance and selection.

Technological services related to cloud and fog properties.

Provision of software tools and visualization tools to check the instrument performance and possible calibration trends. This includes In-house check-up tools that operators at NF can execute to analyze the housekeeping parameters automatically stored by the instrument in order to monitor the instrument performance and stability.

Research and technological services related to cloud and fog properties.

The CCRES is offering development and delivery of tested and traceable procedures for specific calibration of DCRs and MWRs,  possibly including multiple techniques: absolute calibration based on calibrated targets, relative calibration using calibration transfer from a reference instrument, absolute calibration using geophysical targets with known characteristics...

Measurement and technological services related to cloud and fog properties.

Standard procedures for quality assurance developed and provided to NFs to ensure that instrument operators have the means to monitor measurement quality and can take corrective actions when measurement quality changes. A list of housekeeping data and QA/QC flags will be developed to identify measurements that are not compliant with requirements for Doppler Cloud Radars, MicroWave Radiometers, and Doppler Wind Lidars.