7/05

Belfort Raingage Maintenance: Scott noted a problem when he was doing field work recently that may be common to your site . . . a seldom used Belfort gage had a clogged funnel hole due to accumulated “debris”. When you visit your site, we suggest taking extra water, kimwipes and gloves to periodically clean your raingage funnel to avoid this problem. Breaking News - The NADP Executive Committee met in Chicago, June 28-29, 2005, and voted to accept two new load-cell-based electronic precipitation gages for use in the network. More information will be available soon on these gages and where they can be purchased. Total Nitrogen: The CAL routinely measures inorganic nitrogen in precipitation as nitrate and ammonium. There is increasing interest in measuring the amount of total & organic nitrogen in precipitation. The CAL now offers this measurement in precipitation for an additional charge. The method is a flow injection analyzer method using in-line acid and UV digestion to convert inorganic and organic nitrogen to nitrate, then reduce it to nitrite, and measure it colorimetrically. The MDL = 0.008 mg/L as Total Nitrogen. Contact Karen Harlin, CAL Director, for details (kharlin@uiuc.edu or 217-244-6413). http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/cal/ E-mail: cal@sws.uiuc.edu     Back to reminders

8/05 NTN Site Liaison: Scott is retiring on 9/30 and we have been busy interviewing candidates for his replacement. The CAL is pleased to introduce Matt Layden as the new NTN site liaison. He has been training with Scott and Jeff since August 8th. Continue to use the NTN email address (ntn@sws.uiuc.edu) and the 800-952-7353 number to talk with Scott, Matt, or Jeff concerning any site related issues you have, and join us in welcoming Matt to the NADP/CAL. DC Power Supply Maintenance:  Sites using DC power (battery or solar) may experience operational problems related to battery failure that could cause samples to be lost. When running on DC power you need to load test your batteries. A load test provides more information than a voltage check. If you are running on solar power you need to periodically replace your regulator. It is relatively inexpensive and is a critical component of the system. Call Scott to discuss these issues before winter weather arrives. Parts Return: The Network Equipment Depot (NED) provides more parts to sites during the winter months. They need to increase inventory ASAP, so please check your storage areas to ensure you have returned all collector and raingage parts in need of repair or that are unused to CAL promptly. Thanks for looking! As always, please call 800-952-7353 if you have questions.  Thanks   http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/cal/ E-mail: cal@sws.uiuc.edu   Back to reminders 9/05 Scott’s Farewell to the NTN   I want to offer you all my thanks for your work on the NADP with me over these last several years. Several years for me turns out to be 24.  It’s hard to believe that I’ve been writing and talking through our procedures and equipment issues with you for that long.  I guess ‘Time Flies When You’re Having Fun’....honestly.  This has been a rewarding career for me.  I think that we’ve all been working on an important environmental impact assessment project about how our actions influence the atmosphere. We have been able to work together, collect samples ‘Every Tuesday Morning,’ and make a critical input to that assessment, and that’s pretty cool!  I’ll be launching out into the big unknown back here in Illinois. I am retiring pretty early by most standards, and I’ve got lots of things to do. Margaret and I need to see Europe together, 3 daughters are starting their adult lives (one of whom says we CAN through-hike the Appalachian Trail), twin grandchildren, lots of hobbies, etc.  Matt Layden (new NTN site liaison) and Jeff Pribble (sample receipt and supplies shipment) are here to help you with your problems.  Call (217-244-6413) or e-mail (cal@sws.uiuc.edu) the CAL Director, Karen Harlin, if you have any issues that she can resolve for you. Thanks for the memories.....it’s been great. Scott Dossett   http://nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/cal/ E-mail: cal@sws.uiuc.edu   Back to reminders