Luquillo Mountains meteorological and ceilometer data

Metadata:

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: González, Grizelle
Publication_Date: 2017
Title:
Luquillo Mountains meteorological and ceilometer data
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Tabular Digital Data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0023
Description:
Abstract:
This data publication contains hourly laser ceilometer data from Sabana, and hourly meteorological data collected from two weather stations in Bisley and Sabana located on the Luquillo Experimental Forest (El Yunque National Forest) in Puerto Rico. Bisley and Sabana are two watersheds in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. The ceilometer data include: minimum cloud base level, first quartile cloud base level, mean cloud base level, and cover cloud from 2013-2016. Weather data include: total precipitation, mean temperature, mean relative humidity, mean sea level pressure, mean wind speed, and mean wind direction from 2000-2016 for the Bisley station, and 2013-2016 for the Sabana Station.
Purpose:
The ceilometer data were collected to study the frequency of clouds immersing the relatively low-elevation Luquillo Mountains, and supporting the tropical montane cloud forests in these mountains. The weather data were collected to study the weather affecting the tropical montane cloud forest, and to compare weather patterns to cloud base altitude.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 2000
Ending_Date: 2016
Currentness_Reference:
Ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Unknown
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
The Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) is located in the northern tropics at 18.3° N, 65.7° W. The LEF area is in the Luquillo Mountains on the eastern end of the island of Puerto Rico; these mountains are no more than about 13 kilometers (km) from the coastline (the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east and the Caribbean Sea to the south). Maximum elevation is 1077 meters.
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.897369
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.694122
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.365278
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 18.213372
Bounding_Altitudes:
Altitude_Minimum: 100
Altitude_Maximum: 1077
Altitude_Distance_Units: meters
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: cloud
Theme_Keyword: cloud forest
Theme_Keyword: tropical montane
Theme_Keyword: tropical forests
Theme_Keyword: cloud base
Theme_Keyword: climate
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Forest & Plant Health
Theme_Keyword: Climate effects
Theme_Keyword: Climate change
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Luquillo Mountains
Place_Keyword: Luquillo Experimental Forest
Place_Keyword: Bisley
Place_Keyword: Sabana
Place_Keyword: Sabana Field Research Station
Place_Keyword: Puerto Rico
Place_Keyword: El Yunque National Forest
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

González, Grizelle. 2017. Luquillo Mountains meteorological and ceilometer data. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0023
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Grizelle González
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry
Contact_Position: Research Project Leader
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: Jardín Botánico Sur
Address: 1201 Calle Ceiba
Address: Río Piedras
City: San Juan
State_or_Province: Puerto Rico
Postal_Code: 00926
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 787-764-7800
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: ggonzalez@fs.fed.us
Data_Set_Credit:
These data were supported by the Luquillo Critical Zone Observatory (EAR-1331841) and Grant DEB 1239764 from the U.S. National Science Foundation to the Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies, University of Puerto Rico, and to the International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF) USDA Forest Service, as part of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program. The U.S. Forest Service (Department of Agriculture) Research Unit, the U.S. Geological Survey Climate and Land Use Change WEBB Program, and the University of Puerto Rico gave additional support.

Thank you to those who collected data: Grizelle González - Research Project Leader and Research Ecologist at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry; Samuel Moya - General Biologist at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry; Carlos Estrada - Hydrologic Technician at the Sabana Field Research Station; and Carlos Torrens - Biological Science Technician at the Sabana Field Research Station.
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Van Beusekom, Ashley E.
Originator: González, Grizelle
Originator: Scholl, Martha A.
Publication_Date: 2017
Title:
Analyzing cloud base at local and regional scales to understand tropical montane cloud forest vulnerability to climate change
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Journal Article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Other_Citation_Details:
ACCEPTED
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-1166
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Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
INSTRUMENTATION - CL31 Ceilometer

Accuracy: The cloud layer base is the bottom of a vertically continuous layer at least 100 meters (m) thick with no vertical visibility (defined according to a 5% contrast threshold), and it sees clouds up to 7620 + 100 m (7620 m above the ceilometer)

7% of the hourly ceilometer summary data is not from 30 second measurements but instead from the 5 minute measurements (the 30 second data was missing from the record due to storage error), where hourly summaries from the 30 second and 5 minute data were made for the 93% of the time they both had data, and linear regression on this was then used for the period that only had 5 minute data to come up with the hourly summaries. 0.2% of the hourly summary data is missing after this process. During this time, the instrument was not working.

For detailed information about the CL31 Ceilometer including instrument specifications and accuracy please refer to the Vaisala Datasheet: \Data\Supplements\CL31-Datasheet.pdf


INSTRUMENTATION - Meteorological stations

Bisley Sensors:
Temperature and Relative Humidity Sensor - Model HMP50-L
Windset Met One 034A-L G5031

Temperature
Sensor: 1000 ohm Platinum Resistance Thermometer
Measurement Range: -40° to +60°Celsius (C)
Accuracy: Please see graph in product brochure at http://www.campbellsci.com/hmp50

Relative Humidity (RH)
Sensor: Vaisala’s INTERCAP capacitive chip
Measurement Range: 0 to 98% RH (non-condensing)
Accuracy:
±3% (0% to 90% range)
±5% (90% to 98% range)

Wind speed
Windset Met One 034A-L G5031
Range: 0 to 49 meters/second (m/s) (0 to 110 miles per hour [mph])
Accuracy:
±0.12 m/s (±0.25 mph) for wind speed < 10.1 m/s (22.7 mph)
±1.1% of reading from wind speeds > 10.1 m/s (22.7 mph)
Starting threshold: 0.4 m/s (0.9 mph)

Wind direction
Accuracy: ±4°


Sabana Sensors:
Temperature and Relative Humidity - Model CS215-L
Met One Wind Set 034B-L P18895
Setra CS100 Barometric Pressure Sensor 278 5319

Temperature
Measurement Range: -40° to +70°C
Accuracy:
±0.3°C (at 25°C)
±0.4°C (5° to 40°C)
±0.9°C (-40° to +70°C)

Relative Humidity
Measurement Range: 0 to 100% RH (-20° to +60°C)
Output Resolution: 0.03% RH
Accuracy:
±2% (10% to 90% range) at 25°C
±4% (0% to 100% range) at 25°C

Wind speed
Met One Wind Set 034B-L P18895
Range: 0 to 75 m/s (0 to 167 mph)
Accuracy:
< 10.14 m/s (22.7 mph): 0.1 m/s (0.25 mph)
> 10.14 m/s (22.7 mph): ±1.1% of true
Starting Threshold 0.4 m/s (0.9 mph)

Wind direction
Accuracy: ±4°

Pressure
Sensor: CS100
Accuracy:
±0.05 kilopascal (kPa) (@ +20°C)
±0.1 kPa (@ 0° to 40°C)
Logical_Consistency_Report:
not applicable
Completeness_Report:
During the collection period about 5% of the Sabana weather data is missing and 3% of the Bisley data. During these times, the instruments were not working.

“NA” signifies missing data.
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
INSTRUMENTATION - ceilometer (Sabana)

A Vaisala CL31 laser ceilometer was installed at 100 meter (m) elevation in the Luqullio Experiment Forest at 18.30°N 65.73°W, 7 kilometers (km) northeast of the northwest-trending ridgeline that connects two of the higher peaks of the Luquillo Mountains. The ceilometer collected data at 30-second intervals from April 29, 2013 through August 1, 2016. Ceilometer data used in this study were the altitudes of the lowest cloud layer at a point above the instrument; the cloud layer base is the bottom of a vertically continuous layer at least 100 m thick with no vertical visibility (defined according to a 5% contrast threshold; http://www.vaisala.com).

Luquillo Experimental Forest ceilometer data collected May 2013 through August 2016.
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Van Beusekom, Ashley E.
Originator: González, Grizelle
Originator: Scholl, Martha A.
Publication_Date: 2017
Title:
Analyzing cloud base at local and regional scales to understand tropical montane cloud forest vulnerability to climate change
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Journal Article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Other_Citation_Details:
ACCEPTED
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-1166
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
INSTRUMENTATION - meteorological station (Bisley)

The Bisley meteorological station is located in the Luqullio Experiment Forest at 18.30°N 65.75°W at an elevation of 361 meters. The station collects and records on the hour: total rainfall, relative humidity, temperature, wind direction, and wind speed. The instrument was installed in 1993 but had significant upgrades in year 2001.

Data collected January 2000 through August 2016.
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Van Beusekom, Ashley E.
Originator: González, Grizelle
Originator: Scholl, Martha A.
Publication_Date: 2017
Title:
Analyzing cloud base at local and regional scales to understand tropical montane cloud forest vulnerability to climate change
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Journal Article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Other_Citation_Details:
ACCEPTED
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-1166
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
INSTRUMENTATION - meteorological station (Sabana)

The Sabana meteorological station is located in the Luqullio Experiment Forest at 18.32°N 65.73°W at an elevation of 100 meters. The station collects and records on the hour: total rainfall, relative humidity, mean sea level pressure, temperature, wind direction, and wind speed. The instrument was installed in 2013.

Data collected May 2013 through August 2016.
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Van Beusekom, Ashley E.
Originator: González, Grizelle
Originator: Scholl, Martha A.
Publication_Date: 2017
Title:
Analyzing cloud base at local and regional scales to understand tropical montane cloud forest vulnerability to climate change
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Journal Article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
Other_Citation_Details:
ACCEPTED
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-1166
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
The ceilometer collected cloud base data at 30-second intervals from April 29, 2013 through August 1, 2016. The ceilometer was installed in April 2013. Each hour of 30-second data (120 measurements) was processed to give the final reported data of an hourly minimum and an hourly first quartile (the cloud base altitude that 25% of the measurements were at or below in an hour). Clear-sky was considered a cloud base altitude of 9999 meters in these computations; a value that is higher than any value measured by the ceilometer. Also, mean hourly cloud base levels from detected clouds (not including any of the clear-sky values) were computed, comparable to regional airport station reporting. The hourly cloud cover was also computed as the percentage of cloud detections (at any altitude) in the 120 measurements.

NOTE: The hourly mean values from a point source ceilometer include numerous clear-sky and high cloud base observations. The clear-sky values must be ignored in calculating the mean, and the high values bias the mean upwards without giving information on how often the mountains are immersed by clouds.
Process_Date: 2016
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
This data publication includes a comma-delimited ASCII text file containing hourly weather data for the Bisley meteorological station:

\Data\Bisley_Weather2000to2016.csv

Variables for the weather stations include:

YEAR = year

DAY = Julian day of calendar year

HOUR = hour x means hour minute second time x:00:00 to time x:59:30

PRECIP = total precipitation per hour in millimeters (mm)

MEAN TEMP = mean temperature per hour in degrees Celsius (C)

MEAN RH = mean relative humidity per hour in percent

MEAN SLP = mean sea level pressure per hour in kilopascal (kPa)

MEAN WS = mean wind speed per hour in meters per second (m/s)

MEAN WD = mean wind direction per hour in degrees

“NA” signifies missing data.

*Please note that the Bisley weather station does not have any pressure data.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Van Beusekom, A. E.; González, G.; Scholl, M. A. Analyzing cloud base at local and regional scales to understand tropical montane cloud forest vulnerability to climate change, Atmos. Chem. Phys. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-1166, accepted, 2017.
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
This data publication includes a comma-delimited ASCII text file containing hourly data for ceilometer located in the Luquillo Experimental Forest:

\Data\Sabana_CloudBase2013to2016.csv

Variables for the ceilometer data include:

YEAR = year

DAY = Julian day of calendar year

HOUR = hour x means hour minute second time x:00:00 to time x:59:30

MIN CB = minimum cloud base level per hour in meters above sea level

FIRQ CB = first quartile cloud base level per hour (including clear sky measurements as 9999 meters) in meters above sea level

MEAN CB = mean cloud base level per hour (only using measurements that detected clouds) in meters above sea level

CCOVER = cloud cover in hour as percent

“NA” signifies missing data.

“9999” signifies the statistic was clear sky (or above the detection height of the ceilometer)
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Van Beusekom, A. E.; González, G.; Scholl, M. A. Analyzing cloud base at local and regional scales to understand tropical montane cloud forest vulnerability to climate change, Atmos. Chem. Phys. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-1166, accepted, 2017.
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
This data publication includes a comma-delimited ASCII text file containing hourly weather data for the Sabana meteorological station:

\Data\Sabana_Weather2013to2016.csv

Variables for the weather stations include:

YEAR = year

DAY = Julian day of calendar year

HOUR = hour x means hour minute second time x:00:00 to time x:59:30

PRECIP = total precipitation per hour in millimeters (mm)

MEAN TEMP = mean temperature per hour in degrees Celsius (C)

MEAN RH = mean relative humidity per hour in percent

MEAN SLP = mean sea level pressure per hour in kilopascal (kPa)

MEAN WS = mean wind speed per hour in meters per second (m/s)

MEAN WD = mean wind direction per hour in degrees

“NA” signifies missing data.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Van Beusekom, A. E.; González, G.; Scholl, M. A. Analyzing cloud base at local and regional scales to understand tropical montane cloud forest vulnerability to climate change, Atmos. Chem. Phys. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2016-1166, accepted, 2017.
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Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research and Development
Contact_Position: Research Data Archivist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 240 West Prospect Road
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80526
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: see Contact Instructions
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of May 2017. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Resource_Description: RDS-2017-0023
Distribution_Liability:
Metadata documents have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Unless otherwise stated, all data and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. However, neither the author, the Archive, nor any part of the federal government can assure the reliability or suitability of these data for a particular purpose. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed for a user's application of these data or related materials.

The metadata, data, or related materials may be updated without notification. If a user believes errors are present in the metadata, data or related materials, please use the information in (1) Identification Information: Point of Contact, (2) Metadata Reference: Metadata Contact, or (3) Distribution Information: Distributor to notify the author or the Archive of the issues.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: ASCII
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Comma-delimited ASCII text file (CSV)
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped with Winzip 14.0
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0023
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: PDF
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF/A)
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped with Winzip 14.0
Digital_Transfer_Option:
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Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0023
Fees: None
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20170525
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Gary Potts
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: Jardín Botánico Sur
Address: 1201 Calle Ceiba
Address: Río Piedras
City: San Juan
State_or_Province: Puerto Rico
Postal_Code: 00926
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 787-764-7149
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: garyspotts@fs.fed.us
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
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