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Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2013
- Title: WiFi Sensors for Snowpack Studies at Harvard Forest
- Primary Author: Robert Hellstrom (Bridgewater State University)
- Abstract:
Sub-forest canopy meteorological forcing and snowpack properties can profoundly influence the winter ecology of insects (exotherms) and small mammals (endotherms). Within the snow-soil substrate, organisms and soil rely on the insulating capacity of snow cover for heat retention and damping of the extreme thermal fluctuations that hamper survival. Studies have shown that snow depth is critical to insulating against thermal extremes, but too much snow and metamorphism of layers within the snowpack can deter mobility of small mammals and insects. Atmosphere-snow-soil heat exchange processes control heating within the snow-soil substrate, so it is essential to measure conditions and properties of all three layers for snow ecology studies. The newly installed Harvard Forest Field Wireless (HFFW) network provides a unique opportunity to embed wireless automatic sensor technology into remote locations within forest stands. The U30WiFi weather station from Onset Computer with soil-snowpack temperature profile probes, soil moister sensors, and a low-cost experimental sonar ranging sensor for snow depth proved a cost-effective method for real-time access to snowpack and meteorological conditions. In addition, a low-cost wireless camera provided images of ecological impacts modulated by variations in weather and snowpack conditions. Preliminary results are presented from the first year of observations.
- Research Category: Forest-Atmosphere Exchange
- Figures: OpenSite_WiFiWX_and_snowdepth.jpg
IRSensorSnowDepth2011.jpg
Soil_snow_temp2011.jpg
IRSensorSnowDepth2011.jpg
Chipmunks_SnowFleas.jpg
