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 Alter 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