Net Radiation - Net Radiometer (NR-Lite)

Parameter to be measured:

Net Radiation (spectral range 0.2-100µm): The net radiation is the energy balance between incoming short-wave and long-wave infrared (IR) radiation relative to surface reflected short-wave and outgoing long-wave IR radiation.

Method:

The NR-Lite sensor is a thermopile sensor. It has on both sides an black absorber and the sensors outputs a voltage. The vaoltage is proportional to the radiation

Equipment:

• NR-Lite sensor
• Mounting gear
• Logger

Advantages:

• Cheap compared to other net radiometers like the CNR 1 from Kipp & Zonen
• resistant
• measures the short and longwave radiation in one sensor

Disadvantages:

• not as precise as CNR 1 or comparable other sensors
• sensitive to wind speed

What to watch out for:

• keep the sensor clean

Links

Projects that used the above equipment: HYGRA – The effect of water storage variations on in-situ gravity measurements and their use for hydrology

Manufacturer: Kipp & Zonen

Dealer: Campbell Scientific Thies Clima

Manuals and other resources: NR-Lite Brochure NR-Lite Manual

References

The following paper compares the NR Lite with supposedly more precise instrumentation. Interesting conclusions. Douglas R. Cobos, John M. Baker (2003) Evaluation and Modification of a Domeless Net Radiometer, Agron. J. 95:177–183 (http://agron.scijournals.org/cgi/reprint/95/1/177.pdf)