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Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2009
- Title: Prospect Hill Hydrological Stations
- Primary Author: Emery Boose (Harvard Forest)
- Additional Authors: Betsy Colburn (Harvard Forest); William Sobczak (College of the Holy Cross); Mark VanScoy (Harvard Forest)
- Abstract:
A network of hydrological stations on the Prospect Hill Tract measures surface discharge and water temperature of two small headwater streams, Nelson Brook (Millers River watershed) and Bigelow Brook (Swift River watershed). Fifteen-minute data are collected every 1-2 weeks, analyzed, and posted on the Harvard Forest website. For additional details and data, please see the online Data Archive (dataset HF070).
Installation of permanent gages to measure water level and water temperature in the two large associated wetlands, Black Gum Swamp (11 ha; Nelson watershed) and Beaver Swamp (3 ha; Bigelow watershed), was completed in October 2008. At each site instruments and gages were attached to a vertical 4 inch schedule 80 PVC pipe, which was driven into bottom sediments and anchored with 12-15 foot pieces of rebar to resist lifting by the ice. Data from these stations will help us to better understand the hydrology and ecology of these wetlands and their relationship to stream and ground water systems.
Installation of a snow pillow to measure water content of snow pack was initiated in fall 2008 and will be completed in spring 2009. The snow pillow will be located in a small clearing in a mature mixed hardwood stand about 50 m north of the Nelson Brook Big Weir. The pillow will be a circular rubber bag, 3 m in diameter, filled with propylene glycol, and covered with hardware cloth to protect it from rodents. A pressure sensor will measure pressure inside the pillow and indirectly the mass of the snow on top. Data from the snow pillow will enable us to track a critical feature of the water cycle in New England: water storage in snow pack during the winter months.
- Research Category: Watershed Ecology
- Figures: bu dis 2008.pdf
