10/09

Please Tighten 1-L Bottle Lids – Almost half of the NTN samples received at the CAL have at least some leakage noted on receipt. Please remember to securely tighten sample bottle lids before shipping the bottle to the CAL. Reminder to E-gage sites – Please, remember that the FIELD BUCKET ON and OFF times in Block 3 of the FORF should match when the NTN bucket is deployed and removed from the collector. It is NOT the time you downloaded the E-gage data. Also, please remember to record the precipitation types in Block 7. Does your site no longer need Belfort charts? Please let us know if you have recently upgraded your site to an E-gage, and you no longer need Belfort charts supplied. It’s getting harder (and more expensive) to purchase raingage charts. If you have any extra unneeded Belfort charts at your site, return them to the CAL in your next used materials shipment. They will be distributed to other sites. Let your samples thaw completely before decanting – You must allow frozen samples to thaw completely before decanting them into the 1-L bottle. Any ice remaining in the sample will alter the chemistry, as the most concentrated pollutants will melt first. We recommend that you thaw the sample in a refrigerator overnight, or allow it to stand several hours at room temperature. Heating the sample will alter the sample chemistry, and is not strongly discouraged. Remember–We want your unused 1-L bottles! Return all unused 1-L sample bottles from dry sample submission weeks. Keep the same number of clean bottles as you have clean buckets at your site..     http://nadp.isws.illinois.edu/cal/ E-mail: cal@isws.illinois.edu     Back to reminders

11/09 Ambient Sensor Heater Checks – As winter approaches it’s very important to check each week that the collector sensor is heating correctly. The sensor has two heat settings. The lower heat setting keeps the sensor just warm enough to melt frozen precipitation while the higher heat setting is designed to dry off the sensor. Check the lower heat setting by sprinkling a few flakes of snow onto the sensor plate. The snow should quickly melt and open the collector lid. Check the higher heat setting by allowing the melted snow to remain on the sensor. The sensor should become hot to the touch, dry the melted snow, and cause the collector lid to close in approximately 7-10 minutes. If the snow doesn’t melt or the collector lid fails to close in a timely fashion, contact the CAL for a replacement sensor.   Frequently Asked Questions about NADP/NTN Sample Contamination – A frequent source of confusion and questions from operators is how the CAL screens sample chemistry, and why select samples are invalidated for gross contamination. The enclosed sheet explains NADP/NTN sample contamination coding. The CAL Director, Chris Lehmann, reviews all sample contamination screening and sample coding. If you have further questions, feel free to contact him directly at 1-800-952-7353 (217-265-8512 direct line) or email clehmann@illinois.edu. Reminder–We want your unused 1-L bottles! Thanks to all sites who have returned unused 1-L sample bottles from dry sample submission weeks. Save money with Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes – If you currently ship your samples via the U.S. Postal service, you may save money by sending your samples priority mail. The cost to send a medium flat rate box (FRB1) is currently $10.35. Simply place your NTN sample shipping box inside the flat rate box, and you will be charged one flat rate to ship the sample to the CAL. For more information, visit www.prioritymail.com   http://nadp.isws.illinois.edu/cal/ E-mail: cal@isws.illinois.edu   Back to reminders 12/09 CAL Holiday Schedule – The CAL will be closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1. We will be open to accept shipments and answer questions on Dec. 28 – Dec. 30.  We will resume normal schedules on January 4, 2010.  If you anticipate needing supplies during the holidays, please call 1-800-952-7353 or email ntn@isws.illinois.edu as soon as possible. Thank you! Special Reminder to Egage sites – Please make sure that your electronic raingage has a fresh supply of antifreeze at all times.  Allowing water to freeze in the bucket will damage it.  If you add fresh antifreeze, or stir the existing antifreeze, please make a note on your FORF, and in the email sent with the electronic precipitation data. Barcode Label Supply – A one year’s supply of barcode labels will be sent to all NTN site operators with this month’s mailing. There will be an explanatory memo sent with the labels. As a reminder, use two identical labels per sample submitted: Place one label on the NTN FORF and the identical label on the outside of the bottle bag. Inventory of Clean Supplies – Supply boxes sent out from the CAL now include a bright pink label with space for you to inventory clean supplies remaining at your site. Please complete the inventory before you ship a used materials box back to the CAL. This will help us to ensure your site has an adequate stock of supplies. We wish you a peaceful and safe holiday season. Thank you for your continued support of this important environmental research program. Your CAL team looks forward to 2010 and its 32nd year of analytical support for the NADP.   http://nadp.isws.illinois.edu/cal/ E-mail: cal@isws.illinois.edu   Back to reminders