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Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2013

  • Title: Prospect Hill Hydrological Studies
  • Primary Author: Emery Boose (Harvard Forest)
  • Additional Authors: Betsy Colburn (Harvard Forest); William Sobczak (College of the Holy Cross); Mark VanScoy (Harvard Forest)
  • Abstract:

    In recent years the Harvard Forest has developed a complementary suite of long-term, continuous measurements to support detailed studies of water budgets for small forested watersheds on the Prospect Hill Tract. Measurement stations include:



    1. The Fisher Meteorological Station (since 2001), located in an open field next to the Harvard Forest headquarters, measures air temperature, relative humidity, dew point, precipitation, solar radiation, PAR radiation, net radiation, wind speed, wind direction, gust speed, and soil temperature. The Met Station is a node on the field wireless network. Measured values and graphs of selected data are updated on the HF website every 15 minutes (dataset HF001).



    2. Hydrological gages on the Prospect Hill Tract (since 2007-08) measure surface discharge and water temperature of two small headwater streams, Nelson Brook (Millers River watershed) and Bigelow Brook (Swift River watershed), as well as water level and water temperature in two large associated wetlands (Black Gum Swamp and Beaver Swamp). Fifteen-minute data are collected every 1-2 weeks and posted on the HF website (dataset HF070).



    3. The Harvard Forest Snow Pillow (since 2009) measures water content of snowpack (snow water equivalent) during the winter months. The snow pillow is located in a mature mixed hardwood stand with scattered conifers about 50 m north of the Nelson Brook Big Weir. Fifteen-minute data are collected every 1-2 weeks in winter and posted on the HF website (dataset HF155).



    Plans for 2013 include upgrading the hydrological stations and snow pillow through the addition of line power (in conjunction with electrical upgrades for NEON), network connectivity (through the field wireless network), and posting of measured values and graphs of selected data every 15 minutes on the HF website.

  • Research Category: Watershed Ecology