The SACRaM (Swiss Alpine Climate Radiation Monitoring) network was initiated with the objective of ensuring long-term radiation monitoring for climate science research. The SACRaM network comprises four stations: Two are located in the Swiss Alps (at the Jungfraujoch and in Davos), while the other two are situated at lower altitudes in Payerne and Locarno-Monti. The station in Payerne is also part of the international Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN), the global baseline monitoring network for monitoring radiation fluxes at the Earth's surface.

State-of-the art technology for high accuracy measurements

The SACRaM network follows the GAW and BSRN guidelines and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to guarantee high accuracy measurements of the radiation fluxes within three broadband ranges of the spectrum: ultraviolet, shortwave (solar) and longwave (atmospheric infrared thermal) radiation. The following parameters are measured:

• Direct and global irradiance for UV and visible wavelengths
• Diffuse irradiance for UV and visible wavelengths (at certain stations)
• Reflected visible radiation (in Payerne)
• Downward thermal infrared irradiance
• Upward thermal infrared radiation (in Payerne)
• Direct spectral irradiance for selected wavelengths