• System-wide Monitoring Program
  •   Phase 1 (Abiotic)
    • Water Quality
      • Site Selection
      • Hydrographic
      • Nutrients
    • Meteorological
      • Introduction
      • Site Selection
      • Methods
  •   Phase 2 (Biodiversity)
  •   Phase 3 (Land Use)
•   Current Projects
  • Ecology of Salt Panne Habitats
  • Winter Ecology of Marshbirds
  • Winter Ecology of Shorebirds
• Graduate Research Fellowships

Phase 1 (Abiotic)

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Meteorological

Introduction

The principal objectives of meteorological monitoring are to record meteorological information for the Grand Bay NERR that can be used 1) as a vital reference of atmospheric data for various research projects at the reserve -- an integral part of the general NERR mission is to provide a platform for estuarine research, 2) to give meteorological context (atmospheric-forcing) for the half-hourly SWMP water quality data, and other long-term environmental monitoring programs at the reserve (including nutrients and shoreline change), 3) to observe and characterize important events, such as storms, heat and cold waves, droughts and heavy rainfalls, and 4) to detect trends and characterize climate variability over the long-term.

Site Selection

The Grand Bay meteorological station is located near the center of the Reserve (30° 21.551'N, 88° 25.202'W) on a 3m x 3m platform 10m away from a saltwater marsh at an elevation of 1.5m above mean high tide. One of four hydrological monitors associated with the System-wide Monitoring Program was attached to the station until August 11, 2005. That monitor has been moved to Point Aux Chenes Bay, 1183m south. Another monitor is located on the east side of the reserve 6652m north/northeast of the station. The other two monitors are located on the west side of the reserve 3141m north/northwest and 4127m due west of the station. Although small clusters of dwarfed trees are present on nearby shell middens, they are not considered to serve as wind blocks, shades, or obstructions to the weather station due to the elevation of the station and the meteorological sensors.

Methods

The Campbell Scientific weather station samples every 5 seconds continuously throughout the year. These data are used by the CR10X to produce 15 minute averages, maximums and minimums (array 15), hourly averages, maximums and minimums (array 60) and daily averages, maximums and minimums (array 144) of air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, wind speed, and wind direction. CR10X raw data are currently stored on 2 data storage modules. All collected data are quality checked using EQWin. The reports, graphs, and queries of meteorological data are printed and reviewed. Any errors or anomalous data are further investigated and the data are either corrected, deleted (if necessary), or noted in the metadata and left unchanged.

Sensors on the weather station are inspected monthly for damage and/or debris. During these monthly observations, a handheld Kestrel 4000 is used to check the calibrations of the sensors.