The NADP Program Office will provide the coordination, provision of chemical analysis and data validation, site operator support and training, limited equipment repair, quality assurance, and management of NADP database and website. The website provides access to weekly and daily precipitation chemistry data; monthly, seasonal and annual precipitation-weighted mean concentrations; annual and seasonal wet deposition amounts; daily precipitation amounts; color maps of precipitation concentrations and wet deposition amounts; atmospheric mercury concentrations; descriptive site information; annual reports and brochures; and operations manuals and quality assurance information. The Program Office will also produce special reports, outreach, and planning and implementation of bi-annual business meetings and an annual scientific symposium.

Partnerships are created with the NADP Program Office to establish site(s) with one or more networks as listed above. To ensure the highest data quality for your site and the NADP network, the subscriber provide a sample site that meets NADP siting requirements, conduct weekly site visits, equipment maintenance, ensure site operators are properly trained, follow the NADP and network manuals and standard operating procedures (http://nadp.slh.wisc.edu/siteOps/), collect and submit the samples and data in a timely manner, and communicate with the PO timely reports of equipment malfunctions and problems and with monthly review of preliminary data.

Selection of monitoring sites within the NADP is based on the site’s potential to: provide insight into changing atmospheric chemistry, help assess the contributions to sensitive ecosystems, and help validate atmospheric models. Of particular interest are major physiographic, agricultural, aquatic, and forested areas within states, regions, and ecoregions. Siting criteria were established to meet the goal of having regionally representative measurements, and comparability between network sites.

A site should be accessible year round, and in normal weather conditions. It should be secure against vandalism, and from animals, both wild (e.g., bears) and domestic (e.g., cows). When a fence is used to secure a site, the Siting Criteria Rules must be considered. Placement of the NADP instrumentation relative to the fence, in terms of both horizontal and vertical proximity, and the type of fence (e.g., chain link, wood post) are important. In some instances, the fence material may be a concern as well.

Wet-deposition equipment (i.e., collectors and rain gauges), AMoN samplers, AMNet equipment, and MLN samplers should be located such that they cannot be impacted by irrigation sources. Wind speed and wind direction should be considered when assessing potential impact from nearby irrigation sources.

Collocation of an NADP site with other long-term monitoring networks is encouraged. Established sites have a data archive that can be evaluated. Such sites have documentation that may be reviewed as well. Data must not be compromised when monitoring sites are collocated. This is true whether multiple NADP networks are collocated, or whether an NADP network is collocated with another network (e.g., CASTNET, IMPROVE). Local site conditions should be evaluated to ensure that there is appropriate space to operate the networks, and that site activities will not impact sample collection or site operations.