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Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest: Daily Precipitation Rain Gage Measurements, 1956 - present

General Information
Data Package:
Local Identifier:knb-lter-hbr.13.17
Title:Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest: Daily Precipitation Rain Gage Measurements, 1956 - present
Alternate Identifier:DOI PLACE HOLDER
Abstract:

Precipitation has been measured at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest using rain gauges located in or around each watershed since 1956. Three types of rain gauges have been used: standard, mechanical weight recording, and electronic weight recording. Between 1956 and 2014, precipitation was measured weekly at standard gages located at 24 stations in or near gauged watersheds and at the headquarters building. Weight-recording gauges were located at 7 of the 24 stations and capture a continuous strip-chart record. Weekly totals were prorated using daily totals from the nearest recording gauges. Beginning in 2011, electronic weighing rain gauges were implemented to measure 15-minute precipitation. The number of precipitation stations was reduced to 10, when each station was fully converted to an electronic gauge for measuring 15-minute and daily precipitation beginning in 2015. These data were gathered at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in Thornton, NH, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

Publication Date:2021-04-30

Time Period
Begin:
1956-01-01
End:
2021-04-15

People and Organizations
Contact:Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study [  email ]
Organization:USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Associate:Campbell, John (USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Associated Party)
Associate:Bailey, Amey (USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Associated Party)
Associate:Lany, Nina (USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Associated Party)
Associate:Green, Mark (USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Associated Party)

Data Entities
Data Table Name:
HBEF daily precip
Description:
HBEF daily precipitation
Data Table Name:
site info
Description:
Rain gauge locations and elevations
Detailed Metadata

Data Entities

Data Table

Data:https://pasta-s.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-hbr/13/17/0387dde36ad18772f53a551fa3a2083d
Name:HBEF daily precip
Description:HBEF daily precipitation
Number of Records:444588
Number of Columns:3

Table Structure
Object Name:dailyGagePrecip1956-2021.csv
Size:9582178 bytes
Authentication:2508665a3039cc9ce0c676da384d5f85 Calculated By MD5
Text Format:
Number of Header Lines:1
Record Delimiter:\r\n
Orientation:column
Simple Delimited:
Field Delimiter:,

Table Column Descriptions
 
Column Name:DATE  
rainGage  
Precip  
Definition:Collection DateRain Gage NumberPrecipitation
Storage Type:date  
string  
float  
Measurement Type:dateTimenominalratio
Measurement Values Domain:
FormatYYYY-MM-DD
Precision
DefinitionRain Gage Number
Unitmillimeter
Typereal
Min0 
Max170 
Missing Value Code:      
Accuracy Report:      
Accuracy Assessment:      
Coverage:      
Methods:      

Data Table

Data:https://pasta-s.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-hbr/13/17/9e5a9c4a00e226655823a64c50a69c36
Name:site info
Description:Rain gauge locations and elevations
Number of Records:24
Number of Columns:7

Table Structure
Object Name:rainGage_site_info.csv
Size:1363 bytes
Authentication:1a586934f4aa6991bacfb2d6287a4ac6 Calculated By MD5
Text Format:
Number of Header Lines:1
Record Delimiter:\r\n
Orientation:column
Simple Delimited:
Field Delimiter:,

Table Column Descriptions
 
Column Name:rainGage  
longitude  
latitude  
elevation  
watershed  
begin.date  
ongoing  
Definition:Rain Gage Numberdecimal degrees longitudedecimal degrees latitudemeters above sea levelwatershed containing the rain gagedate data collection beganindicates whether precipitation is currently measured at this station
Storage Type:string  
float  
float  
float  
string  
date  
string  
Measurement Type:nominalratioratiorationominaldateTimenominal
Measurement Values Domain:
DefinitionRain Gage Number
Unitdegree
Typereal
Min-71.76919827 
Max-71.70122926 
Unitdegree
Typereal
Min43.91653762 
Max43.95932439 
Unitmeter
Typereal
Min254.6 
Max897.6 
Definitionwatershed containing the rain gage
FormatYYYY-MM-DD
Precision
Allowed Values and Definitions
Enumerated Domain 
Code Definition
Codeyes
Definitionprecipitation currently measured with electronic gauge
Source
Code Definition
Codeno
Definitionstandard rain gauge discontinued at the end of 2014 and precipitation not currently measured
Source
Missing Value Code:              
Accuracy Report:              
Accuracy Assessment:              
Coverage:              
Methods:              

Data Package Usage Rights

This information is released under the Creative Commons license - Attribution - CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The consumer of these data (\"Data User\" herein) is required to cite it appropriately in any publication that results from its use. The Data User should realize that these data may be actively used by others for ongoing research and that coordination may be necessary to prevent duplicate publication. The Data User is urged to contact the authors of these data if any questions about methodology or results occur. Where appropriate, the Data User is encouraged to consider collaboration or co-authorship with the authors. The Data User should realize that misinterpretation of data may occur if used out of context of the original study. While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and associated documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available \"as is.\" The Data User should be aware, however, that data are updated periodically and it is the responsibility of the Data User to check for new versions of the data. The data authors and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of the data. Thank you.

Keywords

By Thesaurus:
LTER Controlled Vocabularyecosystems, forests, watersheds, precipitation, rain, meteorology, weather
LTER Core Research Areadisturbance
HBES VocabularyHBR, Hubbard Brook LTER, Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study, HBES, HBEF, New Hampshire, NH, White Mountain National Forest, gage, gauge
ISO 19115 Topic CategoryclimatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
National Research & Development TaxonomyClimate change, Climate change effects, Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment

Methods and Protocols

These methods, instrumentation and/or protocols apply to all data in this dataset:

Methods and protocols used in the collection of this data package
Description:

SAMPLING DESIGN

Between 1956 and 2014, precipitation was measured at Hubbard Brook by a network of 7 Belfort Universal Precipitation model 5-780 weighing recording rain gauges (RRG) and 24 Standard U.S. Weather Bureau 8-inch rain gauges (SRG). During winter months (Nov-Mar) all gauges were charged with antifreeze and operated with funnels removed. All rain gauges were in clearings maintained to uniform standards with all trees beyond a 40-degree angle measured from the base of the rain gauge stand removed. Each rain gauge was equipped with Altar windshields to reduce wind effects. Rain gauges were mounted on stands at least 2.5 meters above the ground to avoid being buried by snow in the winter.

The analog charts on the recording rain gauges were changed approximately weekly, at which time the accumulation in the standard gauges was measured. The daily recording rain gauge data and weekly standard rain gauge data were entered into the computer. Missing data were filled by estimation from other nearby gages. A computer program used the recording rain gauge data to prorate the standard rain gauge data into daily amounts. The final standard rain gauge data are reported here.

Beginning in 2011, electronic NOAH IV Total Precipitation Gauges (ETI Instrument Systems, Inc.) were phased into operations for measuring 15-minute precipitation. In 2015, the number of precipitation stations was reduced to 10, and each station was fully converted to an electronic gauge for measuring 15-minute and daily precipitation (Green et al. 2018). All other sites were discontinued. Collections with standard rain gauges ceased at the end of the 2014 calendar year.

PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO THIS DATASET:

Bailey, Amey Schenck; Hornbeck, James W.; Campbell, John L.; Eagar, Christopher. 2003. Hydrometeorological database for Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest: 1955-2000. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-305. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 36 p.

Green, M.B., Campbell, J.L., Yanai, R.D., Bailey, S.W., Bailey, A.S., Grant, N., Halm, I., Kelsey, E.P. and Rustad, L.E., 2018. Downsizing a long-term precipitation network: Using a quantitative approach to inform difficult decisions. PLoS one, 13(5), p.e0195966.

PRECIPITATION COLLECTOR DISTRIBUTION:

Standard rain gauges were associated with recording rain gauges (RRG). The RRG were used to prorate weekly standard rain gauge measurements to calculate daily precipitation values. Raw RRG data are not presented in this data set.

RRG 1 – SRG 1, 2, 4, 7, 8

RRG 6 – SRG 3, 5, 6

RRG 10 – SRG 9, 10, 11

RRG 14 – SRG 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

RRG 19 – SRG 19, 20, 21

RRG 22 – SRG 22

RRG 23 – SRG 23, 24, 25

Description:

This method step describes provenance-based metadata as specified in the LTER EML Best Practices.

This provenance metadata does not contain entity specific information.

Data Source
Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest: 15-minute Precipitation Standard Rain Gage Measurements, 2011 - present

People and Organizations

Publishers:
Organization:Environmental Data Initiative
Email Address:
info@environmentaldatainitiative.org
Web Address:
https://environmentaldatainitiative.org
Creators:
Organization:USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Contacts:
Organization:Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study
Email Address:
hbr-im@lternet.edu
Associated Parties:
Individual: John Campbell
Organization:USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Email Address:
john.campbell2@usda.gov
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4956-1696
Role:Associated Party
Individual: Amey Bailey
Organization:USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Email Address:
amey.bailey@usda.gov
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3848-8550
Role:Associated Party
Individual: Nina Lany
Organization:USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Email Address:
nina.lany@usda.gov
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0868-266X
Role:Associated Party
Individual: Mark Green
Organization:USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Email Address:
mbg78@case.edu
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7415-7209
Role:Associated Party

Temporal, Geographic and Taxonomic Coverage

Temporal, Geographic and/or Taxonomic information that applies to all data in this dataset:

Time Period
Begin:
1956-01-01
End:
2021-04-15
Geographic Region:
Description:Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest
Bounding Coordinates:
Northern:  43.959Southern:  43.914
Western:  -71.8062Eastern:  -71.7022
Sampling Site: 
Description:RG1
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -71.7248377271807Latitude (degree): 43.952120788912
Sampling Site: 
Description:RG2
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -71.7270016335138Latitude (degree): 43.954988098759
Sampling Site: 
Description:RG4
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -71.7208410039482Latitude (degree): 43.955178085863
Sampling Site: 
Description:RG6
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -71.7348652311841Latitude (degree): 43.9572423291634
Sampling Site: 
Description:RG9
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -71.7418287379083Latitude (degree): 43.9557488416713
Sampling Site: 
Description:RG14
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -71.7656055273303Latitude (degree): 43.9207988375939
Sampling Site: 
Description:RG17
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -71.7582278684932Latitude (degree): 43.9190259429513
Sampling Site: 
Description:RG19
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -71.7593506173157Latitude (degree): 43.9293403684813
Sampling Site: 
Description:RG22
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -71.7012292563386Latitude (degree): 43.9440218597392
Sampling Site: 
Description:RG23
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -71.746926195465Latitude (degree): 43.9272011309167

Project

Parent Project Information:

Title:Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest Long-Term Data Collection
Personnel:
Organization:USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Role:Principal Investigator
Funding: USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station

Maintenance

Maintenance:
Description:ongoing
Frequency:
Other Metadata

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