Niwot Ridge 2006-2007

Introduction

In support of a NSF-supported project to investigate the use of sensor networks for biogeoscience research, NCAR and CU are deploying additional equipment at the Univ. Colo. Flux Facility (CUFF) in the Univ. Colo. Mountain Research Station (MRS). Initial equipment setup started in Summer 2006, with the majority of measurements to be made in Spring/Summer 2007.

This will be the first real deployment of the new NCAR/EOL TRAnsect Measurement (TRAM) system. Two TRAM transects currently are planned for this study. The first crosses Como Creek and a few other minor drainages from north to south. It is about 105~m each way along one line of 11 towers, with measurements at 1m above ground (low trunk space) one way and 5m above ground (middle of dense foliage) returning. This transect supports the study of nocturnal transport of CO2 by drainage flows.

The second transect will span the 150m distance between the CUFF main tower and the USGS tower to the West.

Chronology

Jul-May, 2007: Set-up TRAM Como Creek transect.
Aug, 2006/Jun, 2007: Configure Hydra to sample Como Creek transect.
Oct, 2006: Initial setup of fixed sensor network and AIRCOA along Como Creek Transect.
Summer 2007: Data collection along Como Creek transect.
Fall 2007: Move towers from Como Creek to CUFF/USGS transect.
Spring/Summer 2008: Data collection along CUFF/USGS transect.
Fall 2008: Equipment teardown along CUFF/USGS transect.

Site Description

Como Creek transect tower locations (from Differential GPS data taken by Lynette Laffee, horizontal precision ~0.5m, vertical precision ~1.0m):

Tower#	Altitude (m)	Northing (m)	Easting (m)
1	3018.2	4431820.8	453491.8
2	3025.1	4431811.0	453493.3
3	3019.3	4431799.6	453492.3
4	3018.8	4431790.3	453488.2
5	3021.4	4431776.9	453489.3
6	3019.2	4431763.1	453492.2
7	3019.4	4431759.3	453488.1
8	3024.1	4431755.9	453478.8
9	3022.2	4431744.2	453481.7
10	3021.3	4431734.5	453475.0
11	3025.2	4431733.6	453464.1

Photographs

The photos so far
Half-hourly images from a USB camera on the chem shelter (downloaded daily at 1pm)

Data Plots

Click here to view qcplots.

First plots from the only continuous run on 6/29/2007:

Trolley heading from flux-gate compass (black), GPS (green), and expected from tower positions (red). Tower transits are indicated with vertical purple lines with tower numbers at bottom of plot. Note the RF data stream is continuous (sufficient range), but that the GPS signal drops out in some locations. The course bypasses tower #6 on the low leg (11->1).
Some data from the trolley. Note that the sonic anemometer data were bad during this run (cause as yet unknown). Also, the CO2 calibration has not been checked.

Data Download

None yet.