Santee Experimental Forest Lotti Road Daily Temperature and Precipitation Data, 1964-2000

Metadata:

Identification_Information
Data_Quality_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Amatya, Devendra M. and Trettin, Carl C.
Publication_Date: 2012
Title:
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: database

Description:

Abstract:: Collection of precipitation data at the Lotti Road weather station on the third-order Watershed 78 (also known as the Turkey Creek Watershed) in the Santee Experimental Forest began in February 1964, and the first air temperature data were recorded in September 1971. During the early years (pre 1996), the weather station data were manually recorded or recorded by Belfort instruments on strip charts. Electronic measurement of air temperature and rainfall at the Lotti Road station began in February 1996.

Daily average temperature only (based on daily maxima and minima) is available through April 2000, then after a data gap extending until September 2001, instantaneous hourly air and soil temperature are both available from this station.

The original units for rainfall were 'cm'; for the sake of later consistency the data have been converted to 'mm'.
Purpose:: The purpose of the data set is to provide researchers with an estimate of daily average air temperature and total precipitation at the Lotti Road weather station, located on Watershed 78 (also known as the Turkey Creek Watershed) in the Santee Experimental Forest.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1964
Ending_Date: 2000

Currentness_Reference:

ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

The geographic area covered by the dataset is the Lotti Road weather station on Watershed 78 in the Santee Experimental Forest.

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -79.78153
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -79.76300
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 33.15007
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 33.13284

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Forested watersheds
Theme_Keyword: Air Temperature
Theme_Keyword: Precipitation

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: South Carolina
Place_Keyword: Coastal Plain
Place_Keyword: Santee Experimental Forest
Place_Keyword: Watershed 78
Place_Keyword: Turkey Creek Watershed

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

These data were collected by USDA Forest Service researchers. In order to use the data in a publication, presentation or other research product you must agree to acknowledge its source. Please use the reference below when citing this work:

(Data name) courtesy of the USDA Forest Service Center for Forested Wetlands Research.

The following statement may be added after an acknowledgement or credit:

The USDA Forest Service Center for Forested Wetlands Research homepage is http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/charleston/.

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:: Manual rainfall measurements were made using a 0.2 m (8-inch) diameter National Weather Service Standard Rain Gauge with its opening 0.8 m from the ground. Until 1996 air temperature measurements were made using standard max/min and ambient thermometers or were recorded on strip charts by a Belfort Hydrothermograph.

Starting in February 1996, both air temperature and precipitation were recorded by sensors linked to an Omnidata 800 datalogger. Rainfall event data recorded by a tipping bucket gauge was calibrated to the total rainfall collected by the manual gauge between download intervals. Temperature data were checked against the standard max/min and ambient thermometers (at 1.37 m and 1.52 m, respectively, inside a ventilated wooden enclosure).

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Visual inspection of electronically plotted temperature and precipitation data and comparison with data from other nearbly SEF stations were employed to expose anomalous values.

Completeness_Report:

There are some large gaps in the data (for rainfall, notable gaps include: November 1969 to November 1971, September 1994 to February 1996, and February 1998 to August 1998; while for air temperature, larger gaps include: February 1973 to May 1973 and February 1998 to August 1998).

There are occasional smaller gaps in the data (lasting up to a month or two) since then resulting from equipment failures or personnel vacancies.

Lineage:

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:: From 1964 to 1996, rainfall data were collected using a manual rain gauge or a Belfort Universal Recording Rain Gauge. Likewise, air temperature data were recorded using standard max/min and ambient thermometers or recorded on strip charts by a Belfort Hydrothermograph from 1971 to 1996.

The Belfort Universal Recording Rain Gauge was used from 2/13/64 to 12/14/94, while the Belfort Hydrothermograph was used from 1/23/96 to 2/8/96.

Starting in February 1996 both air temperature and rainfall were recorded electronically by sensors linked to an Omnidata 800 datalogger and downloaded via data storage packs.

At the same time that filled data storage packs were collected (and replaced by new, empty packs), the manual rain gauge water level was recorded using a dipstick and then dumped. Max/min and current ambient temperature were also recorded (at 1.37 m and 1.52 m, respectively, inside a ventilated wooden enclosure).

Process_Step:

Process_Description:: Prior to the introduction of electronic measurements, rainfall and air temperature data recorded in the field were plotted and visually compared with data from other stations.

Back at the office the hourly electronic data were retrieved from the data storage pack and plotted to check for outliers. Daily maximum and minimum air temperatures were then obtained from the hourly data and used to calculate the daily average air temperature (using Program SAS).
Process_Date: Unknown

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:: Variables included in the dataset Lotti_historical_data.xlsx:

Location = watershed name (WS78 = Watershed 78);
Instr_ID = weather station name (Lotti = Lotti Road weather station);
Date_ = date associated with rainfall and air temperature data (format MM/DD/YYYY);
Rainfall_m (alias 'Rainfall') = daily total rainfall, in mm.; and
Air_Temp_C (alias 'AverageAirTemperature') = daily average temperature, in degrees Celsius.

All missing data were originally assigned the value "-9999"; during database development this code was changed to "null"
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20110614

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Center for Forested Wetlands Research
Contact_Person: Andy Harrison

Contact_Position: Hydrology Technician

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 3734 Hwy 402
City: Cordesville
State_or_Province: SC
Postal_Code: 29434
Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 843 336-5603

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999