LUQ DATA SET METADATA

Long-Term
Ongoing

Data Files and Variables

Data File Identifier Data File Collected
Quebrada uno-Bisley (Q1) Chemistry Data
text/plain iconQuebradaCuenca1-Bisley.txt
 05/20/1986 - 02/23/2010
Quebrada dos-Bisley (Q2) Chemistry Data
text/plain iconQuebradaCuenca2-Bisley.txt
 05/20/1986 - 02/23/2010
Quebrada tres-Bisley (Q3) Chemistry Data
text/plain iconQuebradaCuenca3-Bisley.txt
 05/20/1986 - 02/23/2010
Quebrada Guaba (QG) Chemistry Data
text/plain iconQuebradaGuaba.txt
 01/25/2000 - 02/23/2010
Quebrada Prieta A (QPA)
text/plain iconQuebradaPrieta-A.txt
 06/06/1989 - 10/19/1999
Quebrada Prieta B (QPB)
text/plain iconQuebradaPrieta-B.txt
 06/06/1989 - 09/23/1997
Quebrada Prieta (QP) Chemistry Data
text/plain iconQuebradaPrieta.txt
 10/26/1999 - 02/23/2010
Quebrada Sonadora stream chemistry data
text/plain iconQuebradaSonadora.txt
 06/03/1983 - 02/23/2010
Ri­o Mameyes Gage (MG) Chemistry Data
text/plain iconRioMameyesGage.txt
 09/29/1997 - 02/23/2010
Rio Icacos (RI) Chemistry Data
text/plain iconRioIcacos.txt
 05/24/1983 - 02/23/2010
Puente Roto Mameyes (MPR) Chemistry Data
text/plain iconRioMameyesPuenteRoto.txt
 05/16/1989 - 02/23/2010
All sites basic field stream data
text/plain iconBasicFieldData-Stream.txt
 01/06/1983 - 12/27/2011

Measurements:

Watershed or Collector's location
Sample Code
Sample Date
Sample Time
Gage height
Temperature of water sample
pH Electrometric with combination electrode
Conductivity
Chloride
Nitrate
Sulfate
Sodium
Potassium
Magnesium
Calcium
Ammonium Nitrogen
Phosphate
Dissolved organic carbon
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon
Total Dissolved Nitrogen
thiamin diphosphate
Silica
Dissolved Organic Nitrogen
Total Suspended Sediments
20
Chemistry of stream water from the Luquillo Mountains

Research Sites:

El Verde research Area Quebrada Sonadora collection stream sampling sites
El Verde research Area Quebrada Toronja collection stream sampling site 1
Bisley Study Area Rio Icacos stream sampling site
Bisley Study Area Rio Mameyes gage stream sampling site
Bisley Study Area Quebrada Watershed 1 stream sampling site
Bisley Study Area Quebrada Watershed 2 stream sampling site
Bisley Study Area Quebrada Watershed 3 stream sampling site
Pico del Este research Area Quebrada Prieta collection stream sampling site A
Pico del Este research Area Quebrada Prieta collection stream sampling site B
Pico del Este research Area Quebrada Prieta collection stream sampling site
Rio Mameyes Research Area at Puente Roto
Bisley Study Area Quebrada Guava stream near Naguabo sampling site

Methods:

Analytical Techniques
pH - Electrometric with combination electrode
Conductivity - Conductivity bridge
Cl - up to 1989 by automated colorimetric analysis (thiocyanate); after 1989 by liquid chromatography with conductivity detection
NO3-N - up to 1989 by automated colorimetric analysis (Cd-Cu reduction); after 1989 by liquid chromatography with UV or conductivity detection
SO4-S - Liquid chromatography, conductivity detection
Na, K, Mg, and Ca - up to 1994 by atomic absorption spectroscopy; after 1994 by ion chromatography with conductivity detection
NH4-N - automated colorimetric analysis (phenolhypochlorite)
PO4-P - automated colorimetric analysis (molybdate blue)
DOC - up to 1998 by persulfate oxidation (McDowell et al. 1987); after 1998 by high temperature catalytic oxidation
TDN - prior to 1998 by persulfate oxidation and automated colorimetric analysis; after 1998 by high temperature catalytic oxidation with chemiluminescent detection
TDP - by persulfate digestion followed by automated colorimetric analysis
SiO2 - automated colorimetric analysis (molybdate blue)

Table 1. Data Abbreviations, Detection Limits, and Units of Measure

Datum

Abbreviation

Detection limit

Units

pH

pH

 

pH units 

Conductivity 

Cond

 

micromho/cm 

Chloride 

Cl

0.1

mg/L 

Nitrate 

NO3-N 

3-10

mg N/L 

Sulfate 

SO4-S

0.1

mg S/L

Sodium 

Na 

0.1

mg/L

Potassium

K

0.05

mg/L 

Magnesium 

Mg 

0.1

mg/L  

Calcium 

Ca 

0.1

mg/L

Ammonium 

NH4-N 

2-10

mg N/L 

Soluble Reactive Phosphate

PO4-P

3

mg P/L

Dissolved Organic Carbon

DOC

0.1

mg/L

Total Dissolved Nitrogen

TDN

0.1

mg/L

Total Dissolved Phosphorus

TDP

3

mg/L

Silica

SiO2

0.1

mg/L as SiO2

Abstract

Stream water is collected weekly at the Luquillo Mountain sites listed below. These data sets begin as early as 1983; LTER sampling began in 1988.

Stream water samples are grab samples taken from the water/air interface at stream channel center on the sampling day (usually Tuesdays). A continuous record of stream stage (height) is recorded by a datalogger at all ongoing stream sampling sites. Average daily streamflows are available from the USGS and at other locations (Hydrology and Meteorology) on this site.

All samples are measured for pH and conductivity, and then filtered (pre-combusted Whatman GF/F glass fiber filter) prior to further analysis. From 1983-1994 samples were cooled and returned to the San Juan chemistry laboratory for analysis. During those years, samples for NH4 and NO3 analyses were refrigerated continuously until analysis. Subsamples for NH4 analysis were also preserved with 1 molar H2SO4. From 1994 on, samples for NH4 and NO3were frozen until analysis, were not acidified, and all analyses were conducted at the University of New Hampshire.

Stream water Sampling Sites
Descriptions of LTER LUQ stream water weekly sample chemistry data from 1988 onwards. Chemical concentrations are recorded as mg/L or mg/L as appropriate. Values below detection limits are recorded as 1/2 the detection limit. 

Site

Abbreviation

 Description
 Comments

Quebrada Sonadora

QS

El Verde stream.

  

Quebrada Toronja

QT = QT1

El Verde stream.

  
Rio Espiritu Santo

RES4

LEF North Stream

 LEF= Luquillo Experimental Forest

Quebrada Prieta A

QPA

El Verde stream

  

Quebrada Prieta B

QPB

El Verde stream

  

Quebrada Prieta

QP

El Verde stream

  

Puente Roto Mameyes

MPR

Bisley stream

Previously "PRM"

Quebrada uno-Bisley

Q1 .

Bisley stream

  

Quebrada dos-Bisley

Q2 

Bisley stream

  
Quebrada tres-Bisley

Q3 .

Bisley stream

  

Rio Mameyes Gage 

MG

Bisley stream

  

Rio Icacos

RI

LEF South stream

  

Rio Sabana

RS

 LEF West stream  

Quebrada Guaba

QG

 Icacois stream

Additional Information:

In this new LUQ website-IM system, this data set was was split into two data sets, separating the chemistry data from rain and throughfall collectors into LUQMetadata 174: Chemistry of rainfall and throughfall from El Verde and Bisley.

List of Publications:

Influence of sea salt aerosols and long range transport on precipitation chemistry at El Verde, Puerto Rico
Export of carbon, nitrogen, and major ions from three tropical montane watersheds
Effects of hurricane disturbance on stream water concentrations and fluxes in eight tropical forest watersheds of the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico

Related Project:

Owner:

William H. McDowell

Contact(s):

William H. McDowell

Associated:

Douglas Schaefer
Frederick Scatena

Researcher's Keywords:

nutrient input/output relationships
Interactions of element cycles
biogeochemical cycles
Geochemical Controls
Biogeochemistry Controls
Biogeochemistry

LTER Vocab Keywords:

sulfate
sulfur
sodium
potassium
nitrate
ammonium
nitrogen compounds
nitrogen
magnesium
chloride
chlorine
calcium
elements and compounds
substances
nutrient cycling
biogeochemical processes
processes

LTER Core Area(s):

inorganic nutrients

Complete Metadata:

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