Multi-year observations of shortwave and longwave radiation at the CERES ocean validation site

A long-term surface-based measurement program has been established at an oceanic site to validate new products being derived globally as part of NASA´s Earth Observing System for global change studies. This unique site, located at the Chesapeake Lighthouse in the Atlantic Ocean is completely surrounded by water offering a uniform background with well-known physical properties ideal for validating space-based retrievals of climatologically important parameters such as radiative fluxes and aerosol properties. A description of the site and synergy among current and future measurement programs established at the Chesapeake Lighthouse along with radiation and aerosol data from the first three years of measurements are presented.