LUQ LTER DATA SETS DOCUMENTATION FORM

ON-LINE VERSION

A DATA SET is a series of observations collected by the same methodology. Each data set should have documentation sufficient for someone unfamiliar with the research to replicate the study. Data sets may be broken into subsets (data files) that are discrete in space and time, in that order. The documentation for a data set should include all spatial and temporal subdivisions of the data.

(Data, Abstract, Methods, Variables)

NOTES:

PERSON(S) COMPLETING THIS FORM: E-MAIL ADDRESS:
Fred Scatena fscatena@lternet.edu

Eda C. Meléndez-Colom

emelendez@lternet.edu

DATA SET IDENTIFIER: Meteorological data from several climate stations in the northeast section of the Luquillo Experimental Forest

PROJECT TITLE: Meteorology and Hydrology at Bisley

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Several meteorological parameters are being measured at Bisley since 1993. Correlations between elevation and stream-runoff and rainfall, elevation and air and soil temperature, and between trhoughfall and vegetation types have been found. These relationships are used inhydrologic and nutrient budgets as well as in environmental models .

Rainfall and Stream-runoff

Long-term rainfall and discharge data from the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) were analysed to develop relationships between rainfall, stream-runoff, and elevation. These relationships were then used with a Geographic Information System (GIS) to determine spatially-averaged, mean annual hydrologic budgets for watersheds and forest types within the study area. Model estimates indicate that a total of 3864 mm/yy (444 hm3) of rainfall falls on the forest in an average year. The Tabonuco, Colorado, Palm and Dwarf Forest types receive an estimated annual rainfall of 3537, 4191, 4167, and 4849 mm/yy, respectively. Of the average annual rainfall input, 65% (2526
mm/yr) is converted to runoff and the remainding 35% (1338 mm.yr) is lost from the system by evapotranspiration and other abstractions. In comparison to other tropical forests, the LEF as a whole has more evapotranspiration
than many tropical montane forests but less evapotranspiration than many
lowland tropical forests.

Throughfall

Changes in the quantity and quality of precipitation as it passes through vegetative cover are important components of both hydrologic and nutrient budgets.

Throughfall over any period depends on the balance between precipitation, evaporation and canopy storage (Horton, 1919; Leonard, 1967; Rutter et al., 1972). If the watershed is divided into different vegetation types based on similarity in throughfall and steamflow, the total throughfall over the watershed can be expressed as:

(1) Pg = Sum( T n A n )+ Sum (Sm Dm)

Where Pg = total throughfall reaching the ground, Tn = canopy throughfall from vegetation type n, An = area of vegetation type n, Sm = stemflow from stem type m and Dm = number of stems in type m.

Using eqn. (1) to estimate total watershed throughfall becomes a problem of determining the minimum number of vegetation types necessary to describe the system at the required level of accuracy. In one of our studies, measured throughfall was compared with actual canopy and stem conditions to estimate the percentages of throughfall for different time periods was calculated by weighting the average throughfall and stemflow measured in representative areas of each vegetation type by the total area of that vegetation group.

Measurements reported here were made in two of the Bisley Research Watershed of the U.S. Forest Service. These adjacent watersheds drain 13.0 ha of highly dissected mountainous terrain that range in elevation from 265 to 455 m. Both watersheds are covered by Tabonuco type forests and were selectively logged at various
times between 1860 and 1940 (Scatena, 1988).

The dominant tree in the watersheds in the Tabonuco ( Dacryodes excelsa ) which often comprises as much as 35% of the canopy ( Wadsworth, 1970). Structurally the forest has three dominant layers, a discontinuous emergent strata, a continuous upper stratum at 20 m, and an understory layer. Leaves are mesophyllous and often covered with epiphytic growth.

Air and Soil Temperature

The relationship between mean air temperature and elevation is a required parameter for some environmental
models such as Zelig. Mean air and soil temperature measurements of 10 sites located along a windward
elevation gradient from 153 to 1011 meters were used to develop relationships between mean air and soil temperature of and elevation. The regressions performed showed a linear relationship between both air and soil mean temperature and elevation. The equations:

(2) Mean Air Temperature (in C) = 26.4 -(0.00558 * elevation in meters) and

(3) Mean Soil Temperature (in C) = 25.6 - (0.00543 * elevation in meters)

best fit these relationships. The equation that best fits the mean soil temperature - elevation relationship includes all the stations. In contrast, the best equation for the mean air temperature - elevation relationship excluded both station located at Sabana.

LTER CORE AREAS: Annotate all that apply (See online list)

Primary Productivity
Inorganic Inputs

LEF LTER 1 RESEARCH TOPIC: (Annotate all that apply) (See online list)

Environmental Monitoring

We define a data file as a component of a data set. A data set can have only one data file or more. Basically, different data files have different data structures or format .
DATA SET FILES (SUBSETS):

Data File No.

Data File Identifier

On-Line Filename

Starting Date

Periodicity of sample

End Period

1

Pico del Este daily meteorological data

PEWeatherdaily.txt

August 19, 2000

Daily

April 8, 2007

2

Sabana daily meteorological data

SabanaWeatherdaily.txt

January 1, 2001

Daily

February 12, 2007

3

Pico del Este hourly meteorological data PEWeatherhourly.txt January 1, 2002 Hourly May 31, 2008

RESEARCH LOCATION: Sabana Field Station, Pico del Este Tower

INVESTIGATORS:

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

Fred Scatena fscatena@lternet.edu

OTHER RESEARCHERS

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

   

CONTACT PERSONS

Phone Number (Include area code)

E-MAIL ADDRESS:

Fred Scatena fscatena@lternet.edu (215) 898-6907

SOURCE OF FUNDING (SPONSOR): International Institute of Tropical Forestry, Río Piedras, P.R., (IITF) - NSF LTER

DATA SET ABSTRACT: Electronic sensors are placed at the field location to support other activities. Data set includes measurementes from several climate stations in the northeast section of the Luquillo Experimental Forest. These stations are surround the Bisley Experimental watersheds and the Sabana Field Station that are operated by the USFS and the USGS. See charts: East Peak , Sabana

DATA SET METHODS: Hourly and daily totals are collected from recording climate stations on the upper Bisley Climate tower by the USGS, the lower Bisley climate tower and the roof of the Sabana Field station laboratory building by the USFS, and at the Sabana river discharge station by the USGS. Daily totals are only included in data set from recording stations. Weekly (i.e. Tuesday to Tuesday) and monthly totals are calculated from the sum of the totalizing stations.

For a detailed description of the program variables, its options and parameters refer to :
Campbell Scientific, Inc. 1989, PC208 Datalogger Support Software Instruction Manual. Logan, Utah.
or call:
Campbell Scientific, Inc.
815 W. 1800 N.
LOGAN, UTAH 84321-1784
Tel. (801) 753-2342
Fax# (801) 750-9540
WEB SITE: http://www.campbellsci.com
E-MAIL: info@csius.com

REFERENCES:

CROSS-REFERENCES (other data sets related to this one): LTERDBAS 26: Rainfall and throughfall at Bisley tower; LTERDBAS 29: Bisley daily rainfall (Bisley weekly environmental data); LTERDBAS 90: Bisley Tower I Meteorological data (Bisley Tower); LTERDBAS 147: Meteorological data from several climate stations in the northeast section of the Luquillo Experimental Forest

SAMPLE LOCATION: N/A

STORAGE SITES(of data files): IITF Sabana Station, Luquillo, Puerto Rico; IITF, USDA Forest Service, San Juan, P.R.; ITES, University of Puerto Rico, Data Management Cabinet DM001 Drawer #2

INVESTIGATOR'S ASSIGNED KEYWORDS: Bisley, weather climate, meteorology, meteorological monitoring, datalogger, bisley, LEF, modeling

LEF LTER OFFICIAL KEYWORDS (See table): BISLEY TOWERS, TABONUCO, CLIMATE, PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL

PUBLICATIONS:
García-Martinó, A.R.*, G.S. Warner, F.N. Scatena, and D.L. Civco. 1996a. Rainfall, runoff, and elevation relationships in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. Caribbean Journal of Science 32:413-424.

Scatena, F.N. and M.C. Larsen. 1991. Physical aspects of Hurricane Hugo in Puerto Rico. Biotropica 23:317-323.

Scatena F.N. 1990. Watershed scale rainfall interception on two forested watersheds in the Luquillo mountains of Puerto Rico. J. Hydrology 113, 89-102.

Schellekens J, Scatena F.N., Bruijnzeel L.A., Wickel W.J., 1999. An application of the Gash and Rutter models of rainfall interception in a tropical maritime forest of the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. Journal of Hydrology.

Garcia A.R., Warner G.S., Scatena F.N., Civico D.L., 1996. Rainfall and elevation relationships in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. Caribbean Journal of Science Vol. 32, No.4, 413-424.

Also see: Melendez-Colom, Eda C. 1999. Regression relationships of air temperature and elevation along an elevation gradient in the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF), Puerto Rico. http://luq.lternet.edu/data/lterdb90/data/bistempdata/Bis-temp.htm  

DISSEMINATION:

RESTRICTED ___ UNRESTRICTED _X__

REASONS TO RESTRICT DATA IN THIS DATA SET BEYOND ITS TWO YEAR POLICY PERIOD*:

*WILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY AT LEAST ONE LUQ LTER PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS: N. Brokaw, J. ZIMMERMAN, A. LUGO

FILING

_X_ "File" copy only:Data Management will only file an electronic copy of the data file and its documentation 
___ " Enter" data on-line:Data Management will be in charge of entering the data on computer files (Contact Eda C. Meléndez)

SITES DESCRIPTIONS:

Geographical positional system (GPS) Coordinates for each location:

location

latitude

longitude

Sabana daily meteorological data

 

 

Pico del Este hourly meteorological data

18° 16' 39.784"N

65° 45' 48.384"W

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)

1, 2, 3 3 1, 2, 3 1, 2 1, 2

AbbreviationAbbreviation(as it appears on the data file)

Date

Time

Precipitacionmm

total_ppfd

total_irad

NAME OF VARIABLE

Date of measurement

Time of measurement Total rainfall Total Daily Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density

Total Daily Radiation

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Date of measurement (MM/DD/YYYY). Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Time of measurement (hhmm). Total rainfall in mm. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Total Daily Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density in mmoles/m2. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Total Daily Radiation in mjoules/day. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

UNIT

    millimeters

millimolesPerSquareMeter

millijoulesPerDay

PRECISION

    0.001   0.1

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

         

DATA TYPE

datetime

datetime

decimal

decimal

decimal

MISSING DATA CODES

         

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)

1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2

AbbreviationAbbreviation(as it appears on the data file)

Max_W_S

tmax_wsp

Max_Temp

tmx_temp

Min_Temp

NAME OF VARIABLE

max wind speed

time max wind speed

max temperature

time max temperature

min temperature 

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Maximum daily wind speed. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Time of Maximum daily wind speed (hhmm). Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Maximum daily temperature in Centigrades. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Time of Maximum daily temperature (hhmm). Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Minimum daily temperature in Centigrades. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

UNIT

metersPerSecond

 

celsius

 

celsius

PRECISION

         

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

         

DATA TYPE

decimal

integer

decimal

integer

decimal

MISSING DATA CODES

         

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)

1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2

AbbreviationAbbreviation(as it appears on the data file)

tmin_temp

avg_temp

avg_rh

mnrha

Time_Mnrh

NAME OF VARIABLE

time min temperature

average temperature

average relative humidity

min relative humidity

time min relative humidity

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Time of Minimum daily temperature (hhmm). Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Average air temperature of the last hour. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Average relative humidity (percent) of the laswt hour. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Minimium Relative humidity (percent). Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Time of Minimum daily relative humidity ( hhmm). Field is left blank when datum is missing.

UNIT

 

celsius

 

 

 

PRECISION

         

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

         

DATA TYPE

integer

decimal

integer

decimal

integer

MISSING DATA CODES

         

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)

1 1 1, 2 1, 2

AbbreviationAbbreviation(as it appears on the data file)

Min_W_S

Time_MnWS

mxrha

Time_Mxrh

NAME OF VARIABLE

min wind speed

time min wind speed

max relative humidity

time max relative humidity

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Minimum daily wind speed. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Time of Minimum wind speed (hhmm). Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Maximum daily relative humidity (percent). Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Time of Maximum daily relative humidity (hhmm). Field is left blank when datum is missing.

UNIT

metersPerSecond

 

 

 

PRECISION

       

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

       

DATA TYPE

decimal

integer

decimal

integer

MISSING DATA CODES

       

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)

1 1, 2, 3 1 1 1

AbbreviationAbbreviation(as it appears on the data file)

Wind_S

Wind_Deg

0-45 45-90 90-135

NAME OF VARIABLE

mean wind speed 

Wind direction Wind Rose ( 0-45) Wind Rose ( 45-90) Wind Rose (45-90)

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Mean daily wind speed. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Wind direction as measured by a freely rotating wind vane oriented relative to geographic north. Field is left blank when datum is missing. Unit Wind Vector ( 0-45). Field is left blank when datum is missing. Unit Wind Vector ( 0-45). Field is left blank when datum is missing. Unit Wind Vector ( 0-45). Field is left blank when datum is missing.

UNIT

metersPerSecond

degree degree degree degree

PRECISION

  1      

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

  0 - 359      

DATA TYPE

decimal

numeric

decimal

decimal

decimal

MISSING DATA CODES

         

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES)

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)

1 1 1 1 1

AbbreviationAbbreviation(as it appears on the data file)

135-180 180-225 225-270 270-315 315-360

NAME OF VARIABLE

Wind Rose (135-180) Wind Rose (180-225) Wind Rose (225-270) Wind Rose (270-315) Wind Rose (315-360)

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Unit Wind Vector ( 135-180). Field is left blank when datum is missing. Unit Wind Vector (180-225). Field is left blank when datum is missing. Unit Wind Vector ( 225-270). Field is left blank when datum is missing. Unit Wind Vector (270-315). Field is left blank when datum is missing. Unit Wind Vector ( 315-360). Field is left blank when datum is missing.

UNIT

degree degree degree degree degree

PRECISION

         

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

         

DATA TYPE

decimal

decimal

decimal

decimal

decimal

MISSING DATA CODES

         

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)

3 3 3

AbbreviationAbbreviation(as it appears on the data file)

total_hr_ppfd

total_hr_irad

Max_hr_W_S

NAME OF VARIABLE

Total Hourly Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density

Total Hourly Radiation

max hourly wind speed

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Total Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density of the last hour in mmoles/m2. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Total Radiation of the last hour in mjoules/day. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

Maximum wind speed in the last hour. Field is left blank when datum is missing.

UNIT

millimolesPerSquareMeter

millijoulesPerDay

metersPerSecond

PRECISION

  0.1  

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

     

DATA TYPE

decimal

decimal

decimal

MISSING DATA CODES

     

COMPUTATIONAL METHODS:

Variable Name

Formula

   


FOR DATA MANAGER USE ONLY

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: March 1, 2010

DATE OF LAST ENTRY: August 5, 2005, February 12, 2006,

STAGE OF DATA SET MANAGEMENT (dates):
RECEIVED:March 13, 2006
ENTERED: March 13, 2006
FILED ON-LINE: March 13, 2006
REVIEWED BY RESEARCHER:

FILING MEDIA:
NAME OF DOCUMENTATION FILE: lterdb147.htm
NAME OF DATA FILE: PEWeatherdaily.xls, SabanaWeatherdaily.xls
NAME OF ON - LINE CATALOG: LTERDBAS
RECORD #: 147
DOCUMENT TYPE: digital only
PRIORITY TO BE ENTERED: n/a

Rev. date of this form: 28 July 200/ 15 July  2001/June 9, 2003/March 16, 2004/12 April 2005/ 8 November 2005/ 16 January 2006