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Setting & Research

Data

Photos

• Setting & Research

  Stream Gauging Stations

  Providence Creek gauging stations are located at the outlet of each research catchment.  The four catchments (P300, P301, P303 and P304) are instrumented in similar ways, outfitted with both high and low flow flumes, water depth sensors, and an ISCO sampler.  These instrumented stream sites are operated and maintained by staff from the Kings River Experimental Watersheds (KREW) project and Southern Sierra CZO.

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  Micromet Sensors

  The four research catchments in the Providence Creek headwaters are instrumented with HOBO microclimate sensors, measuring air temperature and relative humidity.  These micromet sensors were installed in summer 2011 and removed late 2013. Sensor location varies in each catchment but was selected based on existing soil moisture and sapflux sampling locations and elevation gradients. The collected microclimate data will increase the density of the distributed microclimate network which will allow us to better estimate the spatial variability of microclimate and eventually improve model predictions of snow, soil moisture, transpiration and streamflow.

• Data

  National - Stream Water Chemistry - Cations, Anions, Metals (1982-2015)
  1 components  •   Bisley, Betasso, East Peak, Marshall Gulch (High-Elevation), Providence Creek Subcatchment P301, Providence Creek Subcatchment P303, Providence Creek Subcatchment P304, Eel River Watershed, Puente Roto, Rio Blanco, Rio Icacos, Susquehanna Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory  •   Biogeochemistry, Biology / Ecology, Hydrology, Water Chemistry  •   Hyojin, Kim; Bishop, Jim; Dietrich, William; Fung, Inez; McDowell, William H.; Brantley, Susan L.; Hoagland, Beth; Sullivan, Pamela L.; Cain, Molly; Neal, Andrew; Fisher, Jessica; Russo, Tess; Niwot Ridge LTER; Liu, Fengjing; Chorover, Jon; Troch, Peter; McIntosh, Jennifer; Brooks, Paul; Abramson, Nate; Heidbuechel, Ingo; Amistadi, Mary Key; Alexander Pedron, Shawn; Chorover, Jon; Troch, Peter; Corley, Timothy; Zapata-Rios, Xavier; Losleben, Mark; Condon, Katherine

• Photos

  SSCZO - Instruments

  

  Matt Meadows (Field Manager, UC Merced) checks on an instrument on the P301 flux tower.

  

  Anemometer measuring wind speed and direction.

  

  Ultrasonic anemometer on the P301 flux tower measures wind speed and direction in 3 dimensions. Data is connected to gas samples taken every quarter second at the filters on the left (beige circles). 

  

  Instrument cluster featuring a relative humidity sensor, ultrasonic snow depth sensor, co-located soil moisture and temperature sensors at different depths, and a solar panel to power it all. 

  

  Instrument cluster at  the P303 Upper Met site with ultrasonic snow depth sensor and co-located soil moisture and temperature sensors. 

  

  Instrument cluster at  the P300 Lower Met site with ultrasonic snow depth sensor and co-located soil moisture and temperature sensors. The pole also psupports a solar panel, and an enclosure with a backup power supply and the data logger.

  

  Instruments installed in the P301 meadows include wells and piezometers, at different locations to assess surface and groundwater flows. 

  

  Several clusters of instruments measure the water balance. These clusters each contain soil moisture and temperature sensors, an air temperature sensor, relative humidity sensor, and an ultrasonic snow depth sensor. 

  

  These water balance instruments are clustered at two different elevations, with north, flat, and south facing aspects. Conditions are measured under canopy, at drip edge, and at open canopy. Water balance measurements are also made in the wireless sensor network that stretches along the P301 meadow. 

  

  The eight subcatchments and two integrating catchments in the KREW project have flumes to measures discharge. 

  

  The large KREW flumes are complemented by small flumes for low flow. 

  

  Each of those eight KREW subcatchments also has a plastic-lined settling basin to capture sediment. 

  

  There are two meteorological stations in the Providence catchment - one at the lower elevation range and one near the crest. Each meteorological station has a rain gauge. 

  

  At the upper meteorological station, there is a snow pillow. This snow pillow tracks the weight of snow above it. Combined with the snow depth measurements, the two permit the calculation of amount of water in the snow pack.

  

  Another view of the snow pillow. 

  Hundreds of instruments and sensors have been deployed in the primary SSCZO research site of the Providence Creek watershed as well as in Wolverton basin.  Additional SSCZO flux towers and instruments have also been installed at the San Joaquin Experimental Range, Soaproot Saddle, and Short Hair Creek.

  Explore more photos of the intstuments and sensors used by SSCZO.

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