The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Reference Upper-Air Network (GRUAN) is an international reference observing network of sites measuring essential climate variables above Earth's surface, designed to fill an important gap in the current global observing system. GRUAN measurements are providing long-term, high-quality climate data records from the surface, through the troposphere, and into the stratosphere. These are being used to determine trends, constrain and calibrate data from more spatially‐comprehensive observing systems (including satellites and current radiosonde networks), and provide appropriate data for studying atmospheric processes. GRUAN is envisaged as a global network of eventually 30-40 sites that, to the extent possible, builds on existing observational networks and capabilities.
This video provides an excellent overview of the goals and principles of GRUAN and its relation to the current challenges in climate research. You can find this and other public outreach material here.
GRUAN is envisaged as a global network of eventually 30-40 measurement sites. To the extent possible, it builds on existing observational networks and capabilities. As at August 2020, GRUAN comprises of 30 sites, 12 of which have been GRUAN certified.
A comprehensive volume of measurement data has been collected by GRUAN since 2008. The archive includes raw data and related meta-data. For the Vaisala RS92 and the Meisei RS-11G radiosonde, GRUAN Data Products (GDP) have been fully implemented and certified. Further GDPs are in certification process or under development.
Meeting Document |
The report of GRUAN's annual meeting, ICM-12, has been published. ICM-12 was organized as a virtual meeting 16-20 November 2020.
Article |
The following GRUAN-relevant paper was published at AMT: "Compact and lightweight mid-infrared laser spectrometer for balloon-borne water vapor…
Article |
The following GRUAN-relevant paper was published at METZ: "Balloon-borne radiation measurements demonstrate radiative forcing by water vapor and…
Meeting |
The 12th GRUAN annual Implementation and Coordination Meeting, ICM-12, took place 16-20 November 2020 as virtual meeting.
All presentations and…
Article |
The following GRUAN-relevant paper was published at AMT: "Interpolation uncertainty of atmospheric temperature profiles" by Fassò et al.…
Article |
The open access journal MDPI Atmosphere will have a special issue on GRUAN:
Document Software |
GRUAN Technical Note 11 (GRUAN-TN-11) published with title "Brief Description of GruanToolRs92 (gt92)"
Article |
The following GRUAN-relevant paper was published at RS: "Assessment of New Satellite Missions within the Framework of Numerical Weather Prediction" by…
Article |
The following GRUAN-relevant paper was published at ESSDD: "Radiosounding HARMonization (RHARM): a new homogenized dataset of radiosounding…