Marcell Experimental Forest biweekly bog frost depth, 1985 - ongoing

Metadata:
Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Sebestyen, Stephen D.
Originator: Verry, Elon S.
Originator: Elling, Arthur E.
Originator: Kyllander, Richard L.
Originator: Roman, Daniel T.
Originator: Burdick, Jacob M.
Originator: Lany, Nina K.
Originator: Kolka, Randall K.
Publication_Date: 2021
Title:
Marcell Experimental Forest biweekly bog frost depth, 1985 - ongoing
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-2021-0015
Description:
Abstract:
This data publication contains frost depth data collected every two weeks in two peatlands instrumented for hydrologic monitoring at the Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF) from 1985–ongoing, only from February until the end of frost during Spring. The variables measured are depth to frost layer, frost thickness, and frost occurrence as percent of area. The three measurements provide information on the depth, duration, and extent of a frost layer. The Marcell Experimental Forest in Itasca County, Minnesota is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, and was formally established in 1962 to study the ecology and hydrology of peatlands.
Purpose:
The Marcell Experimental Forest was formally established in 1962. The MEF contains six watersheds (and other study sites), each consisting of an upland portion and a peatland that is the source of a stream leaving the watershed. The watersheds and environmental monitoring at the MEF are part of a long-term research program on the hydrology and biogeochemistry of watersheds with uplands and northern peatlands (Kolka et al. 2011).
Supplemental_Information:
Additional information about the MEF, its instrumentation, and data can be found at https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/ef/marcell/ and in Sebestyen et al. (2011).
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 19850404
Ending_Date: 20190418
Currentness_Reference:
Ground condition
Status:
Progress: Planned
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Irregular
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
The USDA Forest Service Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF) is an 1140-hectare tract of land located 40 kilometers north of Grand Rapids in Balsam Township, Itasca County, Minnesota, USA.
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -93.50
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -93.45
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.57
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.50
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: inlandWaters
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment
Theme_Keyword: Natural Resource Management & Use
Theme_Keyword: Inventory, Monitoring, & Analysis
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: peatland
Theme_Keyword: bogs
Theme_Keyword: fens
Theme_Keyword: wetland
Theme_Keyword: winter
Theme_Keyword: frost
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Marcell Experimental Forest
Place_Keyword: Minnesota
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:

Sebestyen, Stephen D.; Verry, Elon S.; Elling, Arthur E.; Kyllander, Richard L.; Roman, Daniel T.; Burdick, Jacob M.; Lany, Nina K.; Kolka, Randall K. 2021. Marcell Experimental Forest biweekly bog frost depth, 1985 - ongoing. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0015
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Stephen Sebestyen
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Contact_Position: Research Hydrologist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 1831 Hwy 169 East
City: Grand Rapids
State_or_Province: MN
Postal_Code: 55744-3399
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 218-326-71082
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: stephen.sebestyen@usda.gov
Data_Set_Credit:
Funding for this project provided by USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station.

Others we would like to credit for their work with these data: Clarence Hawkinson, Carrie Dorrance and Katy Johnson.
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Sebestyen, Stephen D.
Originator: Verry, Elon S.
Originator: Elling, Arthur E.
Originator: Kyllander, Richard L.
Originator: Roman, Daniel T.
Originator: Burdick, Jacob M.
Originator: Lany, Nina K.
Originator: Kolka, Randall K.
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:
Marcell Experimental Forest biweekly bog frost depth, 1985 - ongoing
Edition: ver. 1
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publisher: Environmental Data Initiative
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/0f184840135054ab017c8aad6496c353
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Kolka, Randall K.
Originator: Sebestyen, Stephen D.
Originator: Bradford, John B.
Publication_Date: 2011
Title:
Chapter 3: An evolving research agenda at the Marcell Experimental Forest
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: book chapter
Other_Citation_Details:
pages 73-91
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/37980
Larger_Work_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Kolka, Randall K. (Ed.)
Originator: Sebestyen, Stephen D. (Ed.)
Originator: Verry, Elon S. (Ed.)
Originator: Brooks, Kenneth N. (Ed.)
Publication_Date: 2011
Title:
Peatland biogeochemistry and watershed hydrology at the Marcell Experimental Forest
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: book
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Boca Raton, FL
Publisher: CRC Press
Other_Citation_Details:
512 pages
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1201/b10708
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Sebestyen, Stephen D.
Originator: Dorrance, Carrie
Originator: Olson, Donna M.
Originator: Verry, Elon S.
Originator: Kolka, Randall K.
Originator: Elling, Art E.
Originator: Kyllander, Richard
Publication_Date: 2011
Title:
Chapter 2: Long-term monitoring sites and trends at the Marcell Experimental Forest
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: book chapter
Other_Citation_Details:
pages 15-71
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/37979
Larger_Work_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Kolka, Randall K. (Ed.)
Originator: Sebestyen, Stephen D. (Ed.)
Originator: Verry, Elon S. (Ed.)
Originator: Brooks, Kenneth N. (Ed.)
Publication_Date: 2011
Title:
Peatland biogeochemistry and watershed hydrology at the Marcell Experimental Forest
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: book
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Boca Raton, FL
Publisher: CRC Press
Other_Citation_Details:
512 pages
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1201/b10708
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Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and associated documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is." The Data User should be aware, however, that data are updated periodically and it is the responsibility of the Data User to check for new versions of the data. The data authors and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of these data. The Data User should realize that misinterpretation of data may occur if used out of context of the original study.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
unknown
Completeness_Report:
Frost depth measurements are uninterrupted since 1985.

frostThickness and frostPercent: NA = not recorded
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
Frost depth measurement were made several times per winter at ten sites in Junction Fen (an open peatland), and ten sites in S2 Bog (a forested bog) since 1985. In these ecosystems, frost measurements are a direct measure of frozen, saturated soil.

Junction fen is a poor fen with no trees except along the margins. The surface cover is dominated by ericaceous shrubs (Chamaedaphne calyculata), Sphagnum mosses, and Polytrichum mosses. The S2 bog is an ombrotrophic peatland with mature black spruce (Picea mariana), ericaceous shrubs (Rhododendron groenlandicum, Chamaedaphne calyculata, Vaccinium angustifolium), and Sphagnum mosses. Both peatlands have hummock and hollow microtopography.

An initial measurement was made in February, the approximate time of maximum snow accumulation, until the frost was no longer detected, usually in late winter or early spring. The depth to frost is also measured because frost may occur below the surface, especially beneath hummocks in the hummock/hollow microtopography of the peatlands. For example, the loose structure of the moss is usually unsaturated and will not form solid ice, as it does in hollows. Additionally, during melt, frost melts from the top down and the bottom up. That pattern of melt creates an increasing depth to frost and a thinning layer of frost in late winter or early spring.

The measurements are taken in locations where the snow was undisturbed. Snow insulates and snow compaction and removal causes deeper frost. Depths were measured in inches and later converted from inches to centimeters. Depths were rounded to the nearest centimeter. Depth to frost and thickness of the frost layer are presented as the average of the 10 points along each transect. The percent of area with frost is calculated as the percent of points with frozen ground.

From 1985 to February, 2012, frost measurements were made with a Lake States frost penetrometer (Stoeckeler and Thames 1958), which is a 1.3 centimeter (cm) stainless steel rod about 1 meter (m) long with a sharpened and slightly flared point. The bottom 45 cm were marked in 2.5 cm intervals. The attached driver, a 5.5 kilogram (k)g weight, is lifted 45 cm and dropped, whereupon the weight strikes a plate that drives the penetrometer into the soil. Additional manual force was applied as necessary. When the flared point broke through the frost movement was perceptibly faster and easier than in the frost layer. The frost depth was estimated to the nearest 2.5 cm by subtracting the number of increments remaining aboveground from the total number of increments. On the rare occasion when frost was deeper than 45 cm, it was recorded as 45 cm. If the frost penetrometer hit a buried object in the peat, like a log, it was pulled up and moved over to another location. A bouncing sensation with downward progress of the probe was characteristic of impacting a buried log in peat.

After Feb 16, 2012, depth to frost and frost depth were measured using a 1.0 cm (3/8 inch) or 1.3 cm (0.5 inch) masonry or spade bit with a 91.4 cm (36 inch) shank driven by a portable drill. Depth to frost was measured as the distance until resistance to drilling was perceived at the interface of unfrozen and underlying frozen peat. The depth was marked along the drill bit, the drill was retracted from the hole, and the depth was measured with a tape measure to the nearest 2.5 cm (1 inch. Once depth to frost was measured and recorded, drilling downward continued. The bottom of the frozen layer was determined as the point at which resistance to drilling eased and downward progress was unimpeded. The depth was marked along the drill bit, the drill was retracted from the hole, and the depth was measured with a tape measure to the nearest 2.5 cm (1 inch).
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Sebestyen, Stephen D.
Originator: Dorrance, Carrie
Originator: Olson, Donna M.
Originator: Verry, Elon S.
Originator: Kolka, Randall K.
Originator: Elling, Art E.
Originator: Kyllander, Richard
Publication_Date: 2011
Title:
Chapter 2: Long-term monitoring sites and trends at the Marcell Experimental Forest
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Book Chapter
Other_Citation_Details:
pages 15-71
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/37979
Larger_Work_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Kolka, Randall K. (Ed.)
Originator: Sebestyen, Stephen D. (Ed.)
Originator: Verry, Elon S. (Ed.)
Originator: Brooks, Kenneth N. (Ed.)
Publication_Date: 2011
Title:
Peatland biogeochemistry and watershed hydrology at the Marcell Experimental Forest
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: book
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Boca Raton, FL
Publisher: CRC Press
Other_Citation_Details:
512 pages
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1201/b10708
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Stoeckeler, J. H.
Originator: Thames, J. L.
Publication_Date: 1958
Title:
The lake states penetrometer for measuring depth of soil freezing
Edition: 85:1
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Publication_Information:
Publisher: Soil Science
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-195801000-00008
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
No process steps have been described for this data set
Process_Date: Unknown
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Below you will find a list and description of the files included in this data publication.

DATA FILES

\Data\MEF_bogFrost_biweekly.csv: Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing frost depth data collected every two weeks in two peatlands instrumented from 1985–ongoing at the Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF) in Itasca County, Minnesota.

VARIABLES:

peatland = peatland containing the transect (Junction = Junction Fen, S2 = S2 bog)

year = year of study (YYYY)

frostDate = sampling date (YYYY-MM-DD)

depthToFrost = average measurement from the soil (or moss) surface to the surface of the frost of the ten points along the transect (centimeters)

frostThickness = average thickness from the surface of the frost layer to the bottom of the frost layer for the ten points along the transect (centimeters)

frostPercent = percent of 10 sampled points where frost occurred in each bog site (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100)
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
none provided
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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 February 2021. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Resource_Description: RDS-2021-0015
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 these 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 7-Zip 19.0
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0015
Fees: None
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20210223
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Nina Lany
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Contact_Position: Data Manager
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 271 Mast Road
City: Durham
State_or_Province: NH
Postal_Code: 03824-0640
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 603-868-7792
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: nina.lany@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
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