General Info








IPC - XII
tentative dates: Davos, 28 September - 16 October 2015


GENERAL INFORMATION

The Eleventh International Pyrheliometer Comparisons (ipc-xii) are organized by the World Radiation Center (WRC) on behalf of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The IPC-XII are combined with the Regional Pyrheliometer Comparisons (RPCs) of all regions.

Online registration is now open!

Please register before 30 July 2010 either online or by letter to:

          International Pyrheliometer Comparisons
          World Radiation Center
          Dorfstrasse 33
          CH - 7260 Davos Dorf
          SWITZERLAND

If you have any administrative question please do not hesitate to contact Sonja Degli Esposti, Fax: +41 81 417 5100, Tel: +41 81 417 5134). For questions concernig the technical organization of the IPC-XII contact Wolfgang Finsterle, Fax: +41 81 417 5100, Tel: +41 81 417 5153).

The working language of the comparisons is English.



LOCAL INFORMATION

The comparisons will take place at the Physikalisch - Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos/World Radiation Center (PMOD/WRC) which is situated within walking distance from the village center and railway station of Davos Dorf. Public Transport connects Davos Dorf to Davos Platz.

Davos is located in the mountains of Grisons - the south-eastern part of Switzerland. The elevation is about 1600 meters above sea level and the average daily minimum temperatures in September are -1.1°C and -4.8°C in October. The average daily maximum temperatures reach 21.4°C and 18.6°C, respectively. The average sunshine duration is 55% of the possible sunshine duration. A documentation on Davos and its facilities will be distributed upon your arrival. Davos is the home of one of the largest skiing and hiking resorts in the alps.

How to get to Davos

Switzerland possesses an extensive and usually reliable railway network. Intercity trains leave Zurich airport (Zürich Flughafen) every hour on the minute 13 with connecting services at Zurich main station (Zürich HB) and Landquart to Davos Dorf. Please use the interactive tool on the right to find your most convenient connection. Train tickets can be bought either online or at the railway station's ticket booth or vending machines. Seating is open on all trains. Prior reservation is possible but not normally necessary. If you have additional travel plans within Switzerland you also might want to check out the special offers for visitors from abroad.
If you prefer to travel by car you can find driving directions here.

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Timetable

To: Davos Dorf
Date:
Time:
Departure
Arrival
» Traffic Information

Hotel accommodation

Arrangements have been made with the "Hotel Meierhof" in Davos Dorf to accommodate the participants of the IPC-XII. The hotel is within walking distance from the observatory. We depend on your cooperation because the special offer of the hotel is only valid if all participants staying at "Hotel Meierhof" are taking a half-board arrangement. Please note that this is a very favourable deal compared to normal prices in Davos and most of the other hotels will be closed from the beginning of October. A hotel reservation form will be enclosed with the first letter that will be sent to all participants in June 2005.



PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS

A welcome reception will be held on Sunday evening, 26 September at the Hotel Meierhof.
Monday morning will be dedicated for instrument set-up and test runs.



INSTRUMENT REQUIREMENTS

The comparisons are intended for working standard pyrheliometers such as absolute radiometers and compensation pyrheliometers of the Ångström type.

Each participating instrument must be accompanied by all necessary equipment (including a solar tracker) and trained personnel to allow self-contained operations. No assistance can be provided by PMOD/WRC in making the observations.

PMOD/WRC will provide bench space for each participating institution/center with a power outlet (230V AC or 110V AC, 50 Hz). A limited number of 110V, 60 Hz outlets can be provided if needed, as well as 2 or 6 V DC for Ångström operators. If necessary, laptop computers will be provided for data ingestion into the central data acquisition system. Participants may also use their own WLAN equipped device to connect to a web interface for submitting their data. Participants must provide their own sun tracking equipment.

Storing space for instrumentation will also be available.

Procedures and Data Acquisition

Measurements will be taken in series of 21 minutes duration with a 90- seconds base cadence. A 30-seconds sub-cadence is currently evaluated for HF and similar type instruments. Visual as well as aural guidance will ensure proper synchronization of the readings.
Participants are required to maintain a log-book (either electronic or on paper) of all their readings. Data submission to the IPC-XII data acquisition computer has to occur either via the dedicated web interface in real-time or by file upload to the dedicted FTP directory. In the latter case the data format conventions have to be strictly followed. Laptop computers will be provided for participants who do not have a WLAN capable device.

If possible the output of individual values keyed-in by the participants will be handed out for checking after each series. At the end of the day, all results will be posted.

If you have your own digital data acquisition system you may either upload your data to the central data acquisition system by FTP or use a USB memory stick. In any case please follow the data format convetions.

A wireless LAN (WLAN) connection will be available to connect to the data acquisition computer. Details on the naming convention, content and format of the data files will be posted on our web-page and sent with the second announcement.



TRANSPORTATION OF INSTRUMENTS

Negotiations are currently under way with the Swiss customs authorities about a simplified import and export process for IPC-XII equipment and instruments.

The costs for transportation and insurance (if necessary) is to the debit of the owner of the instrument.


COURSE ON METROLOGICAL RADIOMETRY

TBA

SYMPOSIUM AND COURSE

A symposium will be held when the sky is too cloudy to take measurements. A detailed program for a course on radiation measurements is currently being compiled by CIMO experts.

Participants are encouraged to prepare a presentation in order to share exprience with radiation measurement and/or instrument calibration.


3rd FILTER RADIOMETER COMPARISON (FRC-III)

The 3rd Filter Radiometer Comparison (FRC-III) will be held again during the IPC-XII.