Santee Experimental Forest, Watershed 78 Non-recording Rain Gauge Network Data, 1964-1984

Metadata:
Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Amatya, Devendra M. and Trettin, Carl C.
Publication_Date: 2012
Title:
Santee Experimental Forest, Watershed 78 Non-recording Rain Gauge Network Data, 1964-1984
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: database
Description:
Abstract:
A network of seven non-recording gauges was established inside and around the perimeter of Watershed 78 (adjacent to and partially overlapping the Santee Experimental Forest in the Francis Marion National Forest), using three existing gauges (numbers 2, 3, and 4 from the WS 77 network) and four installed from November to December 1964 (numbers 30, 31 32 and 33). Collection of rainfall data began in December 1964. The gauges were usually read only after rain had fallen, and not on weekends or holidays.

The original units for rainfall were 'in'; for the sake of later consistency the data have been converted to 'mm'.
Purpose:
The purpose of the systematically-distributed, non-recording rain gauge network was to provide researchers with an accurate estimate of average aerial precipitation in the third-order Watershed 78, also known as the Turkey Creek Watershed (adjacent to and partially overlapping the Santee Experimental Forest in the Francis Marion National Forest).
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 1964
Ending_Date: 1984
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 Watershed 78, adjacent to and partially overlapping the Santee Experimental Forest in the Francis Marion National 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: Non-recording gauge
Theme_Keyword: Precipitation
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: South Carolina
Place_Keyword: Coastal Plain
Place_Keyword: Santee Experimental Forest
Place_Keyword: Francis Marion National 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/.
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Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
Manual rainfall measurements were made using an 8-inch diameter National Weather Service (NWS) Standard Rain Gauge.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
Visual inspection of plotted precipitation data and comparison with data from other SEF stations were employed to expose anomalous values.
Completeness_Report:
The rain gauges were usually read only after rain had fallen, and not on weekends or holidays. However, more than one precipitation event may have occurred between readings.
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
From 1964 to 1984 rainfall data were collected sporadically (usually just after a recent rainfall event, and not on weekends or holidays) using manual rain gauges.
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Rainfall amounts were recorded for each gauge in the network, and if fairly similar they were averaged to obtain an overall average aerial estimate of rainfall in Watershed 78. However, if unequal distribution of rainfall was observed, the Thiessen or isohyetal method was employed to obtain a realistic average value.
Process_Date: Unknown
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Variables included in the dataset WS78_nonrecording_gauges_1964_1984.xlsx:

Location = watershed name (WS78 = Watershed 78);
Instr_ID = gauge name (Gauge30 = Rain gauge number 30);
Date_ = date associated with rainfall data (format MM/DD/YYYY);
Rainfall_m (alias 'Rainfall') = daily total rainfall, in mm.; and
Remarks = Field notes recorded at time of reading.

All missing data were originally assigned the value "-9999"; during database development this code was changed to "null"
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
None
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20110705
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
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