1/07

Happy New Year! CAL 2007 TRAINING COURSE - We invite you to attend the 2007 NTN Site Operations Training Course in Champaign, IL at the Illinois State Water Survey on June 5th to 7th, 2007.  For details and registration information check the CAL web site http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/cal/Training'07.html REMINDER: 2007 Bar Code Labels  and Updated FORFs- Please note that the 2007bar code labels and updated FORFs were mailed to operators in mid-December. The should have been used with the first sample off in 2007. Discard the 2006 labels and FORFs with a revision date prior to Rev. 10/06. If you did not receive this December mailing, contact us A.S.A.P. Please call 800-952-7353 if you have any questions.     http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/cal/ E-mail: cal@sws.uiuc.edu     Back to reminders

2/07 Every valid sample is important to the NTN data record. The NTN data record is an invaluable asset to scientists, students, educators, policymakers and others who use atmospheric deposition data, whether individual sample data, summary tables, graphs, or maps. In recent years, the NADP web site received over a million hits and users downloaded more than 18,000 data files. Our goal is to maximize the number of valid samples from every site in the network NADP committees set guidelines for determining valid samples. A valid sample is: representative of the precipitation that fell at the site; exposed only during precipitation events (i.e. wet-only); collected, handled, and measured according to standard procedures in the field and at the CAL; and not grossly contaminated. Dry weeks are valid by default. Absent?  Have a back-up operator It’s unlikely that an operator can collect an NTN sample every Tuesday morning, week in and week out. To be valid, sample durations must be no longer than 8 days & 2 hours. If possible, have at least one back-up operator who can change the field bucket on the collector and the raingage chart. This will avoid long duration samples. CAL staff can help your substitute complete the Field Observer Report Form and prepare the sample for shipment. For more information or for any assistance, call 1-800-952-7253 or e-mail ntn@sws.uiuc.edu.   http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/cal/ E-mail: cal@sws.uiuc.edu   Back to reminders 3/07 Spring Cleaning - Site Operation Manual, 5.2.1.2 Sensor Head Cleaning: Periodically clean the sensor to remove any debris that could cause the collector to open and leave the wet-side bucket exposed during dry periods. With the wet-side bucket removed and the collector plugged in: Irrigate the sensor with distilled water or alcohol. (The collector will open. Just ignore this.) Using a toothbrush, gently scrub the area between the sensor grid and plate. Avoid bending the grid and leave no brush residue trapped in the sensor. Again, irrigate the sensor to rinse away any loosened residue. Blow any remaining liquid off the sensor to allow the collector lid to return to the wetside position. CALendar reminder: We are now receiving submissions for the 2008 CALendar. If you would like your site to be featured in the 2008 edition, send the information requested below to Pam Bedient at pbedient@sws.uiuc.edu, 217-244-0868. Picture(s) from your site (in print or digital format) – The pictures can feature site personnel, the natural beauty of your area, or anything else of interest near the site. They do not necessarily have to feature NADP equipment. Be creative! A paragraph about your site – You can highlight achievements of the personnel, research conducted at the site, and/or interesting facts about the area. If applicable, include a web address. This is an opportunity to educate hundreds of NADP participants about your site. We look forward to hearing from you about your site and its unique features. For more information or for any assistance, call 1-800-952-7253 or email ntn@sws.uiuc.edu,   http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/cal/ E-mail: cal@sws.uiuc.edu   Back to reminders