High frequency measurements from Explorers Cove Meteorological Station (EXEM), McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (1995-2022, ongoing)

Summary

Abstract:

As part of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research program, meteorological data are collected from various locations throughout the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. This package contains 15-minute data from the Explorers Cove Meteorological Station (EXEM), located in Taylor Valley (Latitude: -77.588733, Longitude: 163.417523, Elevation: 25 meters above sea level). EXEM was acquired from USGS in 1997, during the 97/98 field season.

Date Range:

November 24, 1995 to December 9, 2022

Data Citation

Doran, P.T., Fountain, A.G. 2023. High frequency measurements from Explorers Cove Meteorological Station (EXEM), McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (1995-2022, ongoing). Environmental Data Initiative. DOI: 10.6073/pasta/a28e9b87b2573d6ccb5e60a7b764b9d4. Dataset accessed 9 December 2024.

Dataset(s)

Description:

EXEM - Air Temperature

Variables (click to expand):

DATASET_CODE

Label:
Definition: Code for given set of information for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

METLOCID

Label:
Definition: Location code for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

DATE_TIME

Label:
Definition: Date/time of sample (New Zealand DST, +13 UTC)
Type: Date/time
Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI
Missing values: None specified

AIRT3M

Label:
Definition: Average air temperature at 3 m above ground
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: celsius
Maximum: 15
Minimum: -70
Precision: 0.01
Missing values:
- Null = None given

AIRTDEL3M1

Label:
Definition: Air temperature at 3 m minus air temperature at 1 m
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: celsius
Maximum: Not specified
Minimum: Not specified
Precision: 0.01
Missing values:
- Null = None given

AIRT_COMMENTS

Label: air temperature comments
Definition: Noted comments by the investigator about the particular measure of air temperature
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

File:

mcmlter-clim-exem_airt-15min-20230630.csv (29.15 MB)

Description:

EXEM - Precipitation

Variables (click to expand):

DATASET_CODE

Label:
Definition: Code for given set of information for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

METLOCID

Label:
Definition: Location code for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

DATE_TIME

Label:
Definition: Date/time of sample (New Zealand DST, +13 UTC)
Type: Date/time
Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI
Missing values: None specified

PPT

Label:
Definition: Unevaporated precipitation
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: millimeter
Maximum: Not specified
Minimum: Not specified
Precision: Not specified
Missing values: None specified

PPT_COMMENTS

Label: precipitation comments
Definition: Noted comments by the investigator about the particular measure of precipitation
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

File:

mcmlter-clim-exem_ppt-15min-20230630.csv (23.26 MB)

Description:

EXEM - Solar Radiation

Variables (click to expand):

DATASET_CODE

Label:
Definition: Code for given set of information for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

METLOCID

Label:
Definition: Location code for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

DATE_TIME

Label:
Definition: Date/time of sample (New Zealand DST, +13 UTC)
Type: Date/time
Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI
Missing values: None specified

PAR

Label:
Definition: Photosynthetically active radiation
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: micromols/second/meter2
Maximum: 2000
Minimum: 0
Precision: 0.1
Missing values:
- Null = None given

SWRADIN

Label:
Definition: Incoming shortwave radiation/solar flux
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: W/m2
Maximum: 900
Minimum: 0
Precision: 0.1
Missing values:
- Null = None given

SWRADOUT

Label:
Definition: Outgoing shortwave radiation/solar flux
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: W/m2
Maximum: 900
Minimum: 0
Precision: 0.1
Missing values:
- Null = None given

RADN_COMMENTS

Label: radiation comments
Definition: Noted comments by the investigator about the particular measure of radiation
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

File:

mcmlter-clim-exem_radn-15min-20230630.csv (40.74 MB)

Description:

EXEM - Relative Humidity

Variables (click to expand):

DATASET_CODE

Label:
Definition: Code for given set of information for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

METLOCID

Label:
Definition: Location code for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

DATE_TIME

Label:
Definition: Date/time of sample (New Zealand DST, +13 UTC)
Type: Date/time
Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI
Missing values: None specified

Label:
Definition: Relative humidity
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: percent
Maximum: 100
Minimum: 0
Precision: 0.1
Missing values:
- Null = None given

RH_COMMENTS

Label: relative humidity comments
Definition: Noted comments by the investigator about the particular measure of relative humidity
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

File:

mcmlter-clim-exem_rh-15min-20230630.csv (25.59 MB)

Description:

EXEM - Soil Moisture

Variables (click to expand):

DATASET_CODE

Label: Dataset code
Definition: Internal dataset code.
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

METLOCID

Label: Station ID
Definition: Location code for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

DATE_TIME

Label: Timestamp
Definition: Date/time of sample (New Zealand DST, +13 UTC)
Type: Date/time
Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI
Missing values: None specified

SOILM

Label: Soil Moisture
Definition: Soil Moisture
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: decimalPercent
Maximum: Not specified
Minimum: Not specified
Precision: Not specified
Missing values:
- Null = None given

SOILM_FLAG

Label: Soil Moisture Flag
Definition: Soil Moisture Flag
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

SOILT

Label: Soil Temperature
Definition: Soil Temperature
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: celsius
Maximum: Not specified
Minimum: Not specified
Precision: Not specified
Missing values:
- Null = None given

SOILT_FLAG

Label: Soil Temperature Flag
Definition: Soil Temperature Flag
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

File:

mcmlter-clim-exem_soilm-15min-20220512.csv (4.08 MB)

Description:

EXEM - Soil Temperature

Variables (click to expand):

DATASET_CODE

Label:
Definition: Code for given set of information for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

METLOCID

Label:
Definition: Location code for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

DATE_TIME

Label:
Definition: Date/time of sample (New Zealand DST, +13 UTC)
Type: Date/time
Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI
Missing values: None specified

SOILT0CM

Label:
Definition: Soil temperature at 0 cm depth
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: celsius
Maximum: 25
Minimum: -70
Precision: 0.01
Missing values:
- Null = None given

SOILT5CM

Label:
Definition: Soil temperature at 5 cm depth
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: celsius
Maximum: 25
Minimum: -70
Precision: 0.01
Missing values:
- Null = None given

SOILT10CM

Label:
Definition: Soil temperature at 10 cm depth
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: celsius
Maximum: 25
Minimum: -70
Precision: 0.01
Missing values:
- Null = None given

SOILT_COMMENTS

Label:
Definition: Noted comments by the investigator about the particular measure of SOILT_
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

File:

mcmlter-clim-exem_soilt-15min-20230630.csv (40.02 MB)

Description:

EXEM - Wind Direction & Speed

Variables (click to expand):

DATASET_CODE

Label:
Definition: Code for given set of information for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

METLOCID

Label:
Definition: Location code for Explorers Cove meteorology station
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

DATE_TIME

Label:
Definition: Date/time of sample (New Zealand DST, +13 UTC)
Type: Date/time
Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH24:MI
Missing values: None specified

WDIR

Label:
Definition: Average wind direction
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: degreesfromnorth
Maximum: 360
Minimum: 0
Precision: 0.1
Missing values:
- Null = None given

WDIRSTD

Label:
Definition: Standard deviation of wind direction
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: degreesfromnorth
Maximum: Not specified
Minimum: 0
Precision: 0.1
Missing values:
- Null = None given

WSPD

Label:
Definition: Wind speed
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: metersPerSecond
Maximum: Not specified
Minimum: 0
Precision: 0.1
Missing values:
- Null = None given

WSPDMAX

Label:
Definition: Maximum wind speed
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: metersPerSecond
Maximum: Not specified
Minimum: 0
Precision: 0.1
Missing values:
- Null = None given

WSPDMIN

Label:
Definition: Minimum wind speed
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: metersPerSecond
Maximum: Not specified
Minimum: 0
Precision: 0.1
Missing values:
- Null = None given

WIND_COMMENTS

Label:
Definition: Noted comments by the investigator about the particular measure of WIND_
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

File:

mcmlter-clim-exem_wind-15min-20230630.csv (38.97 MB)

Short name:

EXEM

Dataset ID:

7008

People

Principal Investigator(s):

Peter T. Doran

Andrew G. Fountain

Contact:

McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER Information Manager

Associated Personnel:

Field Technician

Data Manager

Former Field Crew

Former Data Manager

Methodology

Purpose:

Meteorological data is collected year-round at each of MCM LTER stations. Data is manually downloaded from the meteorological stations during the austral summer. Raw 15 minute data (Level 0) is processed and provided as Level 1 data on the MCM LTER website. Field notes, sensor information, processing procedures, QA/QC, and metadata is provided in the Meteorological Post Processing Documentation and Task Lists for each field season at the following address: https://mcm.lternet.edu/meteorological-task-lists

Methods:

At the start of the first McMurdo LTER field season (1993-1994), Explorers Cove station was one of only two meteorological stations operating on the floor of the McMurdo Dry Valleys. The U.S. Geological Survey continued to manage the station. From November 24, 1995 to February 26, 1996, precipitation levels were sampled every hour for the long-term ecological research program.On February 26, 1996, the signal from the precipitation gage went dead and remained so until new equipment was installed in November, 1997. As a result there is a gap in the data collected at Explorers Cove meteorological station.In November, 1997, a new station with all new sensors mounted on Clow's old tripod was set up. At that time, the station was set up to sample sensors every 30 seconds and send summary statistics (for example, averages and maximums) to solid-state storage modules every 15 minutes. This has resulted in approximately 20 values being recorded for final storage in the more recent output intervals.In 2014, the data loggers lost most of the season data, and the streamed record is spotty.Sampling and Averaging Intervals For Sampling frequency and Data Logger output and averaging intervals please visit: http://www.mcmlter.org/data/meteorology/methods/Interval_Dates.pdf

Maintenance:

On September 6, 1999, the data manager added the 1998-1999 data to this dataset. In the process, she did some fine-tuning of the data, which included the removal and flagging of precipitation values between Nov 21, 1997 @ 11:00 and Jan 13, 1998 @ 9:30. This was done at the request of Thomas Nylen. In May 2000, the 1999-2000 data was posted. In the process, Denise Steigerwald changed the layout of the files so that they were sorted by category (air temperatures, humidity, radiation, wind etc.) rather than by year. Files containing monthly and daily averages were generated and minor adjustments were made to the metadata.

On May 24, 2000, relative humidity (RH) values were corrected for a systematic error in the measurement created by an instrument manufacturer error. All RH data with air temperatures below freezing were corrected using the vapor pressure over ice (rather than over water which was used initially). The error became quite large for very cold temperatures (the correction could grow to around 30%). The formula used for the correctio n was:

RH_corr=RH_orig/((A*temp*temp)+(B*temp)+C)

where RH_corr = corrected relative humidity
RH_orig = original relative humidity
temp = air temperature
A = 4.165E-5 B = 9.7E-3 C = 1.0

For example, with an air temperature of -2.3 and RH_orig of 50.6, the RH_corr will be 51.7. Records that showed corrected RH values greater than or equal to 100 were changed to 99.99 and flagged. In June 2000, summary files were added to the web containing daily and monthly statistics.

These were generated by creating "views" of daily and monthly means, minimums, maximums and counts of the records represented in the Oracle database's meteorology tables.

In 2006, metadata Chris Gardner and Inigo San Gil standardized the metadata to the EML.

In 2014, metadata was refined further using the Drupal Ecological Information Management System (Inigo San Gil)

In 2016, data from 2013 through 2016 onwards was recovered and posted - Maciek, San Gil.

A Decagon soil moisture and temperature sensor was installed at this station from December 2018 to December 2021, with data spanning 12/20/2018 to 12/23/2021. The sensor was damaged during routine maintenance on 12/23/2021, after which the station temporarily stopped recording data. Consequently, there is a gap in the data from 12/23/2021 10:00 to 12/28/2021 10:45. The sensor was later removed during the 2022-2023 field season.

Research Section:

LTER Core Areas:

disturbance

MCM Keywords:

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