GARSTON, UNITED KINGDOM

Contacts:
Dr Paul Littlefair
Building Research Establishment
Garston
Watford WD27JR, United Kingdom
Tel : (44) 1923 664 874
Fax : (44) 1923 664 782
E-mail : littlefairp@bre.co.uk
Server :
Station Location:
Garston, United Kingdom.
Latitude: 51°43' N
Longitude: 0°22' W
Height above sea level: 80 m.
Local Time: GMT+0

Code: GBR1
Type: Research class.
Operation:
Started on July 16, 1992, ended on July 1, 1993.

Topographic map showing the land
within a 5 km radius of the station location

GARSTON, UNITED KINGDOM

Site surroundings:

Garston is located 30 km north-west of London. Within a 5 km radius of the station, 30% of the land is farmland, 40% is suburban housing with roads and gardens, 20% is parkland and wasteland with grass and plants while 10% is woodland mainly deciduous. The M1 motorway is 400 meters from the measurement site.

Climate characteristics:

Climate is temperate maritime with mild winters and warm summers. Rain can occur at any time of the year. Average temperature in winter is 5°C and in summer is 17°C. The annual sunshine duration is 1533 hours. The dominant sky type is partly cloudy. The closest weather station is located at the Heathrow airport, 25 km south of Garston.

Map showing the immediate surroundings of the station

GARSTON, UNITED KINGDOM

Sampling Interval:
1 mn.
Recording Interval:
1 mn.

Illuminances:
Global horizontal: LMT BAP 30 FCT
Diffuse horizontal: LMT BAP 30 FCT
North vertical: LMT BAP 30 FCT
East vertical: LMT BAP 30 FCT
South vertical: LMT BAP 30 FCT
West vertical: LMT BAP 30 FCT
Direct normal: Eppley, Solar Tracker

Irradiances:
Global horizontal: Kipp & Zonen CM11
Diffuse horizontal: Kipp & Zonen CM11
North vertical: Kipp & Zonen CM 5
East vertical: Kipp & Zonen CM 5
South vertical: Kipp & Zonen CM 5
West vertical: Kipp & Zonen CM 5
Direct normal: Eppley, Solar Tracker

Others:
Sky luminance: PRC Krochmann Sky Scanner (Every 15 mn)
Dry Bulb Temperature: Vaisala HMP 132Y
Relative Humidity: Vaisala HMP 132Y

Shadow band specifications:
Diffuse illuminance:
radius: 25.4 cm / width: 5.0 cm
Diffuse irradiance
radius: 25.4 cm / width: 5.0 cm

Station map

Obstruction for the global
horizontal illuminance sensor

Comments

The vertical sensors are shaded from ground reflected light using black honeycomb sheet. All the illuminance photocells were calibrated on the BRE photometric bench in February 1991 and February 1992. The irradiance sensors were calibrated by the UK Meteorological Office in November 1990; the Kipp & Zonen solarimeters were recalibrated in February 1992. The sky scanner was calibrated by the manufacturers in November 1990 and September 1992.

GARSTON, UNITED KINGDOM

View 1 of the station

Comments

A view of the station looking south-west, including from left to right, the diffuse illuminance and diffuse irradiance sensors and, on the black stand, the horizontal global and the four vertical illuminance sensors.

View 2 of the station

Comments

View of the station looking east. In the foreground are the direct irradiance and illuminance sensors on their solar tracking mount. Behind are the vertical irradiance sensors (left, on black and white stand) and the global irradiance. The glazed observation dome (left) does not obstruct the solar tracking sensors as it is due north of them.

GARSTON, UNITED KINGDOM

Important modifications made to the acquisition system, recording interval modification, time during which the station was not operating...

Date

Comments

Jul 15, 91 to
Jan 22, 93		Data recorded.
Jul 16, 92 to
Sep 24, 93		Sky scanner not working (hence no zenith luminance or sky luminance distribution data).
Aug 92 to
end		Humidity sensor not working.

Last modification : March 28, 1997.
WebMaster IDMP : idmp.master@entpe.fr