Hill Demonstration Forest and Umstead Research Farm precipitation data

Metadata:

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

A battery-powered data logging system with a tipping-bucket rain gauge sensor were used to measure and log precipitation in millimeters (mm) on an hourly basis.

Format: Sensor Name, Parameter

Hobo Rain Gauge Data Logger (RG3)
accuracy = ±1.0 percent (%)
resolution = 0.01 inch

Logical_Consistency_Report:

All data in this dataset have undergone quality assurance checks. Raw data were graphed and analyzed using SAS software (JMP) and checked for outliers by looking at the histogram distribution or scatter diagram. If a data point was determined to be an outlier, it was removed from the dataset. For example, if a point fell more than 1.5 times the interquartile range above the third quartile or below the fire quartile, it was removed.

Rainfall data from the Hobo Rain Gauge Data Logger were compared to measurements from a manual rain gauge to determine accuracy. Precipitation measurements from the logger and gauge were within ± 0.5 % of each other.

Completeness_Report:

Blank cells indicate data are missing. Cells reporting a value of zero indicates a value of zero. Brief periods with missing data are present, largely the result of equipment failures or power loss. The batteries were changed regularly to minimize the occurrences of power loss.

Data have been processed to remove outliers and nonsensical data. Missing data were interpolated when there was data from the nearby weather station (< 1 mile) at Camp Slocum and a reliable model could be generated to gap fill the missing values. Gap filling was rare and represents less than 1% of the dataset.

Equations used to gap fill precipitation data:

Precipitation_HF = Precipitation_Slocum*1.0 + 0.02, r² = 0.91

Precipitation_UF = Precipitation_Slocum*0.97 + 0.07, r² = 0.80


For both Hill Forest and Umstead, the precipitation data on May 1, 2018 at 12:00pm is the cumulative value that covers May 1 to May 31, 2018 because the tipping bucket was not working and no data were available to gap fill that period. The cumulative total precipitation data was captured in the manual rain gauge.

For both Hill Forest and Umstead, the precipitation data on July 6, 2018 at 12:00pm is the cumulative value that covers July 6 to August 7, 2018 because the tipping bucket was not working and no data were available to gap fill that period. The cumulative total precipitation data was captured in the manual rain gauge.

Lineage:

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Field

Methodology_Description:

STUDY LOCATION

Research and practical application advances in forest planning and management have occurred over the past 50-60 years in various regions in the southeastern United States. However, more studies that link climate to watershed hydrology and define the range of natural hydrology conditions are needed in the Piedmont region.

HF is located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina and within the Neuse River basin. The HF sites included two pairs of watersheds in the Flat River sub-basin in northern Durham County, North Carolina. Overstory species on these sites included red maple (Acer rubrum), hickory species (Carya spp.), Virginia pine (Pinus Virginia), white oak (Quercus alba), northern red oak (Quercus rubra), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), chestnut oak (Quercus montana), and loblolly pine (Pinus taeda).

The study areas included a treatment watershed with a riparian buffer (HF1 and UF1) and a reference watershed (HF2 and UF2). HF1, HF2, UF1, and UF2 each contained a single, first-order stream and they ranged in size from 30 – 72 acres. At HF, HF1 and HF2 were nested within a larger study watershed (HFW1, considered to be “partial treatment” as it included HF1) and it had a separate, nearby reference watershed (HFW2). This larger watershed allowed assessment of the effects of the harvest further downstream from the active harvest area. HFW1 and HFW2 were 72 and 99 acres, respectively.

HF watersheds (HF1, HF2, HFW1 and HFW2) were located in the Carolina Slate Belt (CSB) ecoregional subsection, which is characterized by streams that are generally shallow, connected to a narrow floodplain, have a rocky substrate, and have relatively steep upland slopes.

Conversely, in the Triassic Basins (TB) ecoregional subsection, where UF watersheds (UF1 and UF2) were located, streams tend to have deeper (incised) stream channels that are detached from wide floodplains, sandy substrates, and gentle upland slopes. Some reaches of the UF streams in this study, particularly those in UF2, appeared to have been channelized or straightened in the past, a common occurrence in North Carolina due to legacy homestead uses or agricultural practices.


FIELD MEASUREMENTS

Precipitation was measured between 2007 and 2020 at HF and UF as part of a Timber Harvest/Best Management Practices Project that started in March 2007 and is currently ongoing. Precipitation (rain and snow) was measured on the HF and UF in open areas using a Hobo Rain Gauge Data Logger (RG3). The rain gauge data was reported hourly and was positioned at approximately 450 meters from other complimentary hydrology monitoring equipment. The RG3 is manufactured by Onset Corporation, Bourne, MA.

A manual rain gauge was installed next to the RG3 tipping bucket. If the tipping bucket failed, the cumulative precipitation between site visits was recorded from the manual rain gauge and could be used to document precipitation during that period. This only happened twice, May 1, 2018 and July 6, 2018. On average, we went to the sites to download data every two weeks.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

See methodology section for details.

Process_Date: Unknown

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Hill Demonstration Forest

Entity_Type_Definition:

HF is an experimental forest north of Durham, North Carolina owned by North Carolina State University.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source:

USDA Forest Service

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Umstread Research Farm

Entity_Type_Definition:

UF is an experimental forest north of Durham, North Carolina owned by North Carolina Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source:

USDA Forest Service

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Hobo Rain Gauge Data Logger - RG3

Entity_Type_Definition:

The tipping-bucket rain gauge is located within the HF and UF used to measure precipitation (rain and snow) on an hourly basis.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source:

Hill Demonstration Forest and Umstread Research Farm Data Manager

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

Below you will find a list and description of the files available in this data publication.

DATA FILES

\Data\HF_precipitation.csv: Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing precipitation data from Hill Demonstration Forest. Variables include:

Date = Day of measurement (mm/dd/yyyy, where mm=month, dd=day, and yy=year)

Month = Month of measurement (mm)

Year = Year of measurement (yyyy)

Hour = Time of measurement (hh)

HF_precip_mm = Watershed-weighted daily precipitation millimeters (mm)


\Data\UF_precipitation.csv: Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing precipitation data from Umstead Research Farm. Variables include:

Date = Day of measurement (mm/dd/yyyy, where mm=month, dd=day, and yy=year)

Month = Month of measurement (mm)

Year = Year of measurement (yyyy)

Hour = Time of measurement (hh)

UF_precip mm = Watershed-weighted daily precipitation millimeters (mm)


SUPPLEMENTAL FILES

\Supplements\HF_and_UF_BasalArea_info.pdf: Portable document format file containing basal area and treatment information for Hill Demonstration Forest and Umstead Research Farm.

\Supplements\Site_map.pdf: Portable document format file containing an aerial view and descriptive information for the Hill Demonstration Forest and Umstead Research Farm.

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

none provided

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20201026

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Johnny L. Boggs

Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Eastern Forest Threat Assessment Center

Contact_Position: Co-lead SRS Experimental Forest Network

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 3041 East Cornwallis Street

City: Research Triangle Park

State_or_Province: NC

Postal_Code: 27709

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 919-549-4060

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 919-549-4047

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: johnny.boggs@usda.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999