Lake Bonney Snowfence Meteorological Station Measurements

Summary

Abstract: 

As part of the Long Term Ecological Research in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, meteorological data was collected from various locations throughout Taylor, Wright and Victoria Valleys. These files contain data for the Lake Bonney Snowfence station (in Taylor Valley). Measurements at this temporary met station ceased on April 2006.

Date Range: 

January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2006
Data Citation
Doran, P.T., Fountain, A.G. 2014. Lake Bonney Snowfence Meteorological Station Measurements. Environmental Data Initiative. DOI: 10.6073/pasta/f1cfa3f9f401c721dd5802c78e3b47f7. Dataset accessed 16 July 2025.
Dataset(s)

Description: 

Bonney Snowfence station Air PAR Units

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Code for given set of information for Bonney Snowfence meteorology station
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
METLOCID
  • Label:
  • Definition: Location code for Bonney Snowfence 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_AIR_PLUS1_5M
  • Label:
  • Definition: Photosynthetically active radiation
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: micromols/second/meter2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
AIRPAR_COMMENTS
  • Label:
  • Definition: Noted comments by the investigator about the particular measure of AIR_PAR_
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

File: 

BOYS_AIRPAR.csv (7.85 MB)

Description: 

Bonney Snowfence Station BOYS_AIRT

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Code for given set of information for Bonney Snowfence meteorology station
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
METLOCID
  • Label:
  • Definition: Location code for Bonney Snowfence 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
AIRT1_3M
  • Label:
  • Definition: Average air temperature at 1.3 m above ground
  • 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: 

BOYS_AIRT.csv (6.83 MB)

Description: 

Bonney Snowfence Station Soil PAR Units

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Code for given set of information for Bonney Snowfence meteorology station
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
METLOCID
  • Label:
  • Definition: Location code for Bonney Snowfence 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_SOIL_PLUS3_6M
  • Label:
  • Definition: Photosynthetically active radiation 3.6 m east of snowfence
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: micromols/second/meter2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
PAR_SOIL_PLUS1_8M
  • Label:
  • Definition: Photosynthetically active radiation 1.8 m east of snowfence
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: micromols/second/meter2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SOILPAR_COMMENTS
  • Label:
  • Definition: Noted comments by the investigator about the particular measure of SOIL_PAR_
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

File: 

BOYS_SOILPAR.csv (10.42 MB)

Description: 

Bonney Snowfence Station Snow Height Surface Change spreadsheet description and units used

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Code for given set of information for Bonney Snowfence meteorology station
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
METLOCID
  • Label:
  • Definition: Location code for Bonney Snowfence 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
SURFCHANGE_CM
  • Label:
  • Definition: Surface Height Change -snow height / sediment accumulation or loss
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: centimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.4
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SURFCHANGE_COMMENTS
  • Label: surface change comments
  • Definition: Noted comments by the investigator about the particular measure of surface change
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

File: 

BOYS_SURFCHANGE.csv (13.74 MB)

Description: 

Bonney Snowfence Station Soil Temperature Units

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Code for given set of information for Bonney Snowfence meteorology station
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
METLOCID
  • Label:
  • Definition: Location code for Bonney Snowfence meteorology station- BOYS
  • 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
SOILT_4_5M
  • Label:
  • Definition: Surface soil temperature at 4.5 m west of snowfence
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: celsius
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.01
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SOILT+1M
  • Label:
  • Definition: Surface soil temperature at 1 m east of snowfence
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: celsius
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.01
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SOILT+1_9M
  • Label:
  • Definition: Surface soil temperature at 1.9 m east of snowfence
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: celsius
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.01
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SOILT+3_8M
  • Label:
  • Definition: Surface soil temperature at 3.8 m east of snowfence
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: celsius
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • 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: 

BOYS_SOILT.csv (10.08 MB)

Short name: 

bonney_snowfence

Dataset ID: 

7004
People

Principal Investigator(s): 

Peter T. Doran
Andrew G. Fountain

Contact: 

McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER

Associated Personnel: 

Field Crew
Hassan Basagic
Field Crew
Thomas Nylen
Data Manager
Inigo San Gil
Related

Related publications: 

McMurdo Dry Valleys Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER): LTER automatic weather network (LAWN)
Methodology

Methods: 

 During the 2000-2001 field season, the McMurdo LTER established a snowfence above (south) of the west lobe of Lake Bonney in western Taylor Valley. The station was set up to sample sensors every 30 seconds, except the sonic range which samples every 15 minutes, 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 every output interval.

Task List notes

2002-2003 Season

Author of this report: Thomas Nylen 
Sampling Frequency: sonic every 60 minutes, every 30 sec for all the others 
Averaging and Output Interval: every 15 min 
Program Name: bsn001v1.dld

Filename bsn02031.dat
File Period: January 24, 2002 (24) @ 1500 to Nov 7, 2002 (311) @ 0430 

Filename bsn02032.dat
File Period: Nov 7, 2002 (311) @ 0445 to Nov 16, 2002 (320) @ 1445 

Filename bsn02033.dat
File Period: Nov 16, 2002 (320) @ 1445 to Dec 17, 2002 (351) @ 1830 

Filename bsn02034.dat
File Period: Dec 17, 2002 (351) @ 1845

Filename bsn02035.dat
File Period: Dec 17, 2002 (351) @ 1845 to January 24, 2003 (24) @ 1400

1. array I.D. o1 
2. day ok 
3. time ok 
4. mean soil P.A.R. +3.6 m (east) from snow fence (micromols/s/m2) – Q30801 divide by 200, multiply by 301.57 
5. mean soil P.A.R. +1.8 m (east) from snow fence (micromols/s/m2) – Q30802 divide by 200, multiply by 319.62 
6. mean Air P.A.R. @ 1.6 m (micromols/s/m2) – Q20266 divide by 200, multiply by 228.05
7. mean air temp. @ 1.5 m (C) rclow 
8. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil -1.9 m (west) of snow fence (C) rclow 
9. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil +0.9 m (east) of snow fence (C) rclow 
10. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil +1.8 m (east) of snow fence (C) rclow 
11. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil +3.6 m (east) of snow fence (C) rclow 
12. sample depth from sensor to surface (cm) Measured depth (1.097) + Value) * 100 
13. sample of battery voltage

For FILENAMES  bsn0234 and bsn02035 the PAR multipliers differ:

4. mean soil P.A.R. +3.6 m (east) from snow fence (micromols/s/m2) divide by 200, multiply by 217.27 
5. mean soil P.A.R. +1.8 m (east) from snow fence (micromols/s/m2) divide by 200, multiply by 222.23 
6. mean Air P.A.R. @ 1.6 m (micromols/s/m2) divide by 200, multiply by 275.02
 

2003-2004 Season

Author of this report: Thomas Nylen 
Sampling Frequency: sonic every 60 minutes, every 30 sec for all the others 
Averaging and Output Interval: every 15 min 
Program Name: bsn023v1v1.dld (Program Signature: 63043)

Filename bsn03041.dat
File Period: January 24, 2003 (24) @ 1415 to November 7, 2003 (311) @ 0345 

Filename bsn03042.dat
File Period: November 7, 2003 (311) @ 0400 to November 19, 2003 (323) @ 1115

Filename bsn03043.dat
File Period: November 19, 2003 (323) @ 1130 to January 5, 2004 (5) @ 1700

Filename bsn03044.dat
File Period: January 5, 2004 (5) @ 1715 to January 24, 2004 (24) @ 1130

Filename bsn03045.dat
File Period: January 24, 2004 (24) @ 1200

1. array I.D. o1 
2. day ok 
3. time ok 
4. mean soil P.A.R. +3.6 m (east) from snow fence (micromols/s/m2) divide by 200, multiply by 217.27 
5. mean soil P.A.R. +1.8 m (east) from snow fence (micromols/s/m2) divide by 200, multiply by 222.23 
6. mean Air P.A.R. @ 1.6 m (micromols/s/m2) divide by 200, multiply by 275.02
7. mean air temp. @ 1.5 m (C) rclow 
8. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil -1.9 m (west) of snow fence (C) rclow 
9. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil +0.9 m (east) of snow fence (C) rclow 
10. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil +1.8 m (east) of snow fence (C) rclow 
11. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil +3.6 m (east) of snow fence (C) rclow 
12. sample depth from sensor to surface (cm) Measured depth (1.097) + Value) * 100 
13. sample of battery voltage

2004-2005 Season

Author of this report: Thomas Nylen 
Sampling Frequency: sonic every 60 minutes, every 30 sec for all the others Averaging and Output Interval: every 15 min 
Program Name: bsn023v1v1.dld (Program Signature: 63043)

Filename: bsn04051.dat 
File Period: January 24, 2004 (24) @ 1200 to November 15, 2004 (320) @ 1430 

Filename: bsn04052.dat
File Period: November 15, 2004 (320) @ 1445 

Filename: bsn04053.dat
File Period: November 15, 2004 (320) @ 1445 to January 24, 2005 (24) @ 1515

1. array I.D. o1 
2. day ok 
3. time ok 
4. mean soil P.A.R. +3.6 m (east) from snow fence (micromols/s/m2) – Q30801 divide by 200, multiply by 217.27 
5. mean soil P.A.R. +1.8 m (east) from snow fence (micromols/s/m2) – Q30802 divide by 200, multiply by 222.23 
6. mean Air P.A.R. @ 1.6 m (micromols/s/m2) – Q20266 divide by 200, multiply by 275.02 
7. mean air temp. @ 1.5 m (C) rclow 
8. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil -1.9 m (west) of snow fence (C) rclow 
9. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil +0.9 m (east) of snow fence (C) rclow 
10. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil +1.8 m (east) of snow fence (C) rclow 
11. mean soil temperature @ 0 cm in soil +3.6 m (east) of snow fence (C) rclow 
12. sample depth from sensor to surface (cm) Measured depth (1.097) + Value) * 100 
13. sample of battery voltage

2005-2006 Season

Date of Establishment: January 2001 by Thomas Nylen 
Author of this report: Thomas Nylen 
Sampling Frequency: sonic every 60 minutes, every 30 sec for all the others 
Averaging and Output Interval: every 15 min 
Program Name: bsn045v1.dld (Program Signature: 1133)

Filename bsn04051 (Note filename does not follow convention)
File Period: January 24, 2005 (24) @ 1515 to November 14, 2005 @ 1615

Filename bsn04052 (Filename does not follow convention)
File Period: November 14, 2005 (24) @ 1630 to January 4, 2006 @ 1400

 
 

Additional information: 

 Meteorological data is collected year-round at each of the stations in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. 
 
After retrieving this data (usually every January), the parameters that are recorded are processed from level 0 (raw) to level 1 (processed, provided on the web). The  raw data file descriptions and task lists summarize what was done to get from  level 0 to level 1 for all station found at the following address:
 
 
The last usable data was recorded on January 4, 2006 @ 14:00. There was some intermittent data recorded during the 2006-2007 season, but not much. The station was modified in late January 2007 to support another experiment
 
Categories

Research Section: 

Keywords: 

Metadata Download