Jahresbericht 08 - PMOD/WRC

Introduction
Werner Schmutz
In-house design and the manufacture of hardware for
space experiments has always been the forte of the institute’s
research activities. VIRGO on SOHO was launched in
1995 and was the last experiment put into space until
finally, another launch of an observatory-built experiment
occurred: On February 7, 2008, the space experiment
SOVIM, Solar Variability and Irradiance Monitor, was transported
to the International Space Station (ISS) by the space
shuttle Atlantis. The contract with ESA for implementation
of SOVIM dates back to March 1998 and originally, it was
intended that SOVIM would be delivered in 2001. However,
many changes to the project and the temporary non-availability
of shuttle transport to the ISS delayed installation of
the Solar payload on the ISS by many years. Finally, when
the experiment was in place and operational, dramatic pictures
of SOVIM were relayed back to Earth from the departing
Atlantis shuttle. The breathtaking images of the
huge ISS structure are even more impressive when one realizes
that an instrument built in Davos is aboard (see inside
back cover).
There is a tradition that the Swiss embassy in Berlin invites
a canton to organize the celebration party on August 1
which is Swiss National Day. Last year the host canton was
Grisons and the PMOD/WRC had the opportunity to represent
Grisons’ high technology industry. At our disposition
was a tent of about 35 m 2 . Six posters were dedicated
to describing our involvement in the ISS, our institute, past
and future space experiments, and climate modeling
efforts in predicting future temperatures on Earth with
emphasis on winter temperatures in Davos. In addition, engineering
models of space instrumentation built by
PMOD/WRC were displayed in a showcase. The central
piece of the exhibition was a computer setup that had a
direct real-time link to SOVIM on the ISS displaying the instrument
status and measurement readings. Three members
of the PMOD/WRC staff represented the institute,
Stephanie Ebert, Daniel Pfiffner, and Werner Schmutz. We
had a very interesting and busy evening with about 20 %
Introduction 5
of the 1200 guests visiting our tent and a large fraction of
them discussing our experiments and climate issues in
general.
In the 2007 annual report we reported that WORCC, the
World Optical Depth Research and Calibration Center, became
a full section member of the World Radiation Center.
Previously, WORCC was supported by a Swiss contribution
to WMO’s Global Atmosphere Watch program (GAW-
CH). Financial support by GAW-CH has now shifted to
another section of the institute: A new contract until the
end of 2011 now finances the European Ultraviolet Calibration
Center.
Two research projects on researching the Solar-Terrestrial
relationship have come to an end. Fortunately, it was possible
to obtain a new contract in the frame of the European
Seventh Framework Programme. We are part of the project
SOTERIA, SOlar-TERrestrial Investigations and Archives,
which started in November 2008 and will ensure a continuation
of this research activity for the next three years.
The forthcoming renovation of the observatory’s interior
structure required many hours of consultation and paperwork
preparation with PMOD/WRC staff and the Architects.
This preparation was needed for planning criteria. At
present, the main construction work is scheduled to begin
after the 11th International Pyrheliometer Comparisons in
October 2010. In 2009, only a fire-escape stair and a new
larger elevator will be constructed at the rear of the building.
Operational services is the main livelihood of the WRC. It is
therefore very pleasing that we can report growing demand
for our services every year, not only because there now
exist more WRC sections but also because every section
reports an increase in activity. This indicates that in these
times of growing public awareness of climate change issues
the services offered by the World Radiation Center
will continue to be in high demand.
Figure 1. Impressions of the “research tent” on August 1, 2008 at the Swiss embassy in Berlin to celebrate Swiss National Day.
Left: The exhibition tent; middle left: the showcase; right: discussions with guests.