Details and Metadata

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Methods

The methods followed in the creation of the dataset, including description of field, laboratory and processing steps, and quality control procedures

Current Methods

  • Meteorology data
    Started: 1999-07-26

    This Mount Mansfield station provides basic meteorological variables including wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, total solar irradiance, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and precipitation during non-freezing months. Data are stored as 15 minute averages to a data storage module changed every 57 days or less. The station is located within a mixed aspen-birch spruce-fir forest, and represents mid-elevation forest meteorology.

Dataset Fields

Detailed documentation of the fields comprising the dataset, including the type of measurement, units where applicable, and any controlled vocabularies or code lists present in the data


Field Name Caption Description Additional Information
RECORDTIMEDate/Time

Date/time of recording

Measurement type: DateTime
Date/Time Format: other
SAMPLEYEARSample Year

Sample year

Measurement type: DateTime
Date/Time Format: YYYY
SAMPLEDAYSample Day

Sample day

Measurement type: Interval
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 1
SAMPLETIMESample Time

Sample time

Measurement type: DateTime
Date/Time Format: other
MAX_WINDSPEEDMaximum Windspeed

The fastest wind speed recorded in a 15 minute interval

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.001
TIME_MAX_WINDSPEEDTime Maximum Windspeed

The time to the minute of the fastest wind speed recorded

Measurement type: DateTime
Date/Time Format: other
MEAN_HORIZONTAL_WINDSPEEDMean Horizontal Wind Speed

The average speed of wind, regardless of its direction

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.001
MEAN_RESULTANT_WINDSPEEDMean Resultant Windspeed

Wind speed normalized for its direction using a vector approach, this is vector averaged wind speed

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.001
MEAN_WIND_DIRECTIONMean Wind Direction

Average direction of wind

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
STDDEV_WIND_DIRECTIONStandard Deviation Wind Direction

The standard deviation of the wind direction

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.01
AIRTEMPAir Temperature

Air temperature

Measurement type: Interval
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.01
RELHUMIDRelative Humidity

The amount of water vapor that is actually in the air, compared to how much water vapor potentially

Measurement type: Ratio
Units: dimensionless
Precision: 0.1
PRECIPPrecipitation

Amount of precipitation

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
PYRANOMPyranometer

Pyranometer reading of amount of solar irradiance

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 1
QUANTUMQuantum

Quantum sensor reading for photosynthetically active radiation

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 1
SAMPLEMONTHSample Month

Sample month

Measurement type: DateTime
Date/Time Format: other

Sampling Equipment

Equipment and software used to collect data, including how that equipment was used.

Current Equipment

  • Data logger, weather sensors
    Started: 1999-07-26

    Campbell CR10X data logger and storage module with automated weather sensors mounted on a 3 m tower.

  • Rain gauge
    Started: 2001-09-06

    Unheated tipping bucket (rain gauge) installed in September 2001.

Site Characteristics

The spatial extent of the dataset site coverage, and descriptions of the spatial extent and context for the data collection

  • Site Description

    Station is located within the Ranch Valley watershed on the east slope of Mount Mansfield, about 200 feet from the auto-toll road in a small opening in spruce/fir forest. Approximate coordinates: 44.5194 N, 72.7988 W. Approximate elevation: 2878 feet.

Dataset Notes

Notes describing any special conditions or considerations for understanding the quality and consistency of the data


Start Date End Date Note Date Entered
2024-08-20 00:00:002024-08-20 23:59:59BP replaced temp RH sensor at 930am and trimmed back branches that were touching wind vane. Battery box was full of water. Water was drained and new lid was attached.2024-08-28 11:43:36
2023-09-01 00:00:002023-09-01 23:59:59BP Replaced bearings on wind vane. Replaced RH/Temp sensor with newly calibrated sensor 2023-09-01 12:26:51
2023-01-20 00:00:002023-01-20 23:59:59Replaced old battery (dead 8v) with new 100ah AGM Renogy battery. Site connected but data seems to have been lost from 1/3/23 to 1/20/232023-01-20 20:03:57
2023-01-17 00:00:002023-01-17 23:59:59Site down from 1/03/2023. Probably due to low battery. Will head up with new battery as soon as Stowe allows.2023-01-18 16:49:42
2022-10-05 00:00:002022-10-05 23:59:59BP went up to replace the solar panel and add a charge controller to the system. The system was underpowered with a 20W panel and did not have a charge controller. A 50W panel and a CC was installed, and the battery has been charging well since. 2022-10-27 14:11:02
2022-09-25 00:00:002022-09-25 23:59:59BP went up to replace the Quantum and Pry with new sensors. Quantum New SN: Q39431 Old SN: Q21798 . Pyranometer New SN: PY59197 Old SN: PY890432022-11-16 07:38:50
2022-02-11 00:00:002022-02-11 23:59:59JD and AB visited station. Arrived at 930am. Conditions were clear, about 30 degrees F, deep snow cover. Cleaned off solar panel at 946am. Opened datalogger box. Noticed blinking light on modem and disconnected at 1006am. Turned datalogger off at 1016am to replace battery. Removed old battery, wired with new insulated wire connectors and bolted them to the battery. We left the old battery on site under the downed log near the ladder. Turned the datalogger back on at 1044am. The modem wouldn't communicate with the datalogger. When connecting from the datalogger to the laptop, JD found it had collected on 2/2 and 2/9. Locked and covered everything back up.2022-02-11 13:26:51
2022-01-13 00:00:002022-01-13 23:59:59AB and NC visited station on 1/13/2022. Arrived at 11:15. Wiped off solar panel and began to scrape off ice. Opened batter and found terminals to be frosted over but no liquid in box. Unplugged datalogger at 11:33am. Checked voltage of battery terminals which were at 7.76. Plugged back in at 11:44am. Voltage of datalogger power was at 7.65. Determined that battery needs to be replaced and hopefully updated with a model that will perform better in the cold.2022-01-13 16:40:10
2021-10-18 00:00:002021-10-18 23:59:59JT noticed that on 10/18/2021 the clock was set at 10/16/2021 7:00 EST when it should have been 10/18/2021 9:00 AM EST. The clock was reset and the data will be corrected to ensure that the right data is in the DB. This issue seems to occur every time that it goes offline.2021-10-18 10:06:01
2021-10-14 00:00:002021-10-14 23:59:59JT and NC went out to MME on 10/14/2021. Staturn off at 842 AM EDT and back on at 853 EDT. There was light rain and extreme fogginess. We replaced the temprh (#126) with a new sensor (Z2220083). The powerport on the data logger is chiped, there isn't really a border holding the plug to the datalogger JT taped it using electrical tape. We should consider swapping out that CR10X for a new one. The precip gage was covered even though it was not plugged into the data logger. We brought back to funnel and the mesh screen. There was a lot of beer cans and trash left at the site we picked up most of it. Next year we should retension the tower, set up the precip gage on a new platform and put up more signage, there seems to be a lack of care at this site. When I plugged the data logger back in, the clock reset to March so the clock needed to be reset and the records changed were corrected as well.2021-10-14 12:55:34
2021-03-01 00:00:002021-03-01 23:59:59The station has been offline as of 2/17/2021 but it seems to have come back online sometime around 03/01/2021. Jim was looking into the issue and saw data was downloaded from the datalogger, however the clock seems to have reset itself back to day ~240. Currently the station is still not connecting to RSEL but monitoring will continue to see when RSEL is able to connect to MME. Once we have a reliable connection, JT will correct the clock.2021-03-02 11:56:57
2021-02-22 00:00:002021-02-22 23:59:59JT noticed that MME has gone offline on 02/06/2021 at 3:00 PM. It looks like the latest battery voltage was around 10.32 V. It started to drop the voltage from 12 to 11 and eventually to 10 on 2/4/2021. It hovered around 11 until 2/6/2021. It is possible that the sites solar panel is covered in snow or the battery has unplugged as snow shifts around the base that holds up the battery. For summer 2021, once we can get access to the stations via car we need to build a new base for the battery, since this shifting has caused the site to shut off in the past. JT is reaching out to Stowe to get ski patrol to put eyes on the site on 02/22/2021.2021-02-22 11:57:22
2020-09-02 00:00:002020-09-02 23:59:59JT visited on 09/02/2020. Swapped out temp/rh (V4550005) with (W2340053), quantum (Q27567) with (Q21798), and pyranometer (PY75508) with (PY89043). Reflectors were installed to make the site more visible during the winter. A new program was sent (20200902_MME_Program.dld). The pyranometer cable was a little short so it does not hug the posts as close as would like. New coordinates were recorded for the site because the old ones were incorrect (44.51895, -72.79791). The battery that was replaced by JD earlier this year was also retrieved and brought back to the office. Suggest bringing an A-frame ladder next visit, makes things a lot easier.2020-09-08 11:26:51
2020-05-07 00:00:002020-05-07 23:59:59JT updated the time and DOY within the MME data to fix a time error that caused the MME data to stop uploading. The issues occurred on DOY 119 at 1100 AM all records after this were the adjust time up until DOY 128 at 0945 AM. The clock on the logger was adjusted back to match the computer time.2020-05-07 11:58:21
2020-03-25 00:00:002020-03-25 23:59:59JD went out to inspect why the MME station had gone down unexpectedly on 03/11/20 at 12:15AM. The logger was off upon arrival and the modem had an amber power light on. An ethernet cable was plugged into the modem to check it's connection and it turned green. The issue was likely a cable connection between the modem and the logger or a power issue with the modem. Once JD connected to the modem with a laptop, everything was live. Additional work consisted of bringing up a new battery(#169 a battery that was temporarily used on DI may need to double check SN during next visit). Logger was turned back on at 400 EDT. The modem may be faulty and should be watched carefully. There is currently data missing from 3/10 1145PM EDT to 03/11/20 at 1200AM EDT and from 03/11/ 1215AM EDT to 03/25 0330PM EDT. JD noticed that the RM young is beginning to get noisy should replace with next visit.2020-04-03 12:27:30
2019-11-25 00:00:002019-11-25 23:59:59JT and JD went this trip. Note that we should contact Ski Patrol ahead of time. During this visit we noted that they did not know where we were going and towed us down to the location using a sled (very nice and saved time). Arriving to the site the battery was pushed off of the platform causing the power cord to come out. This occurred on 11/7/19 at 9:45 PM. We noticed that the bucket rain gage had also been knocked over. There was snow in the battery box. 2 of the tension cables were cut. Precip has been removed entirely. We took the post and moved it closer to the tripod, the cables to the logger was also removed @ 12:52 (white to P2, blk to G and clear to G). The temprh (V4550001) was replaced by newly calibrated V4550005. We also measured the sensors to the ground. The temprh was 2.29m. The pyranom and quantum were 3.94m. The wind bird was 3.84m. and the precip was not measured since it had been knocked over.2019-11-25 16:59:55
2018-09-18 14:00:002018-09-18 15:15:00MF and JD visited site and killed power at 1400 EDT. Replace quantum (Q27567), pyranometer (PY75508), and Temp/RH with (V4550001). Replaced one guy line and tightened others. Wind bird and rain gauge in good shape. Power back on at 1515 EDT. Data looked good. Quantum calibration factor from cal cert: 267.76 Pyran multiplier = 1/(94.0 * (.147/1000)) = 72.36 See I:\Administration\Met&AQ; Monitoring Operations\Manuals\240-LI-200R_Manual_15210.pdf for calculation details.2018-09-18 18:28:15
2018-02-12 10:00:002018-02-12 11:00:00Station maintenance visit to fix battery issues that affected cellular communication. A new battery was added and the modem programming was changed to reduce energy usage.2018-02-16 09:03:29
2018-01-25 14:30:002018-02-12 14:00:00Battery voltage dropped too low and data was not captured during this time period.2018-02-16 09:05:22
2017-10-04 09:00:002017-10-04 12:00:00Wind vane directional housing replaced to fix worn bearings. 2017-11-09 09:42:12
2017-09-15 10:00:002017-09-15 12:00:00Cellular modem and antenna added to station, enabling real-time communication Temperature/RH probe replaced with newly calibrated unit. Rain gauge cleared. Wind speed prop replaced with rebuilt nosecone. Noisy bearings observed for wind direction, will be replaced on future visit. Tower guy-wires repaired/replaced where feasible.2017-11-09 09:32:49
2016-08-18 10:00:002017-10-16 16:45:00An error with the datalogger program led to PYRANOM (total solar irradiance) values being negative instead of positive. This was corrected for all values between in that time range.2018-02-16 09:01:56
2012-11-01 00:00:002013-04-15 23:59:00Rain gauge closed for the season. Precipitation data values set to NULL.2013-10-23 15:31:00
2012-08-27 09:30:002012-08-27 10:00:00cleared site with loppers and saw. cleaned rain guage. Replaced temperature/humidity probe for calibration purposes. restrung raingauge guide wires.2012-08-28 00:00:00
2012-07-05 09:00:002012-07-05 09:30:00cleaned rain gauge at 9:40. precip data needs to be nullifed2012-07-06 13:00:00
2012-06-19 09:40:002012-06-19 09:45:00cleaned rain gauge at 9:40. precip data needs to be nullifed2012-06-20 00:00:00
2012-05-23 10:00:002012-05-23 10:00:00rain gauge opend for the season on May 23, 2012 (doy 144) at 10:00 am EST.2012-05-23 10:00:00
2011-10-02 21:30:002011-10-16 12:00:00Rain gauge cloged from 10/2/11 @ 21:30 until 10/16/11 at 12:00 when the gauge was closed for the season.2011-10-02 02:13:00
2011-06-06 11:00:002011-06-06 11:00:00Rain Gauge opened for the season. Other instruments were untouched, however jostling of the tower may have occured.2011-06-06 00:00:00
2010-10-10 10:30:002010-10-10 10:30:00Rain Gauge covered and closed for the season2010-10-10 10:30:00
2010-09-14 21:15:002010-10-09 10:30:00Rain gauge clogged rendering data invalid, precip data deleted2010-09-14 09:15:00
2009-10-07 17:45:000000-00-00 00:00:00Pending. rain gauge closed for the season at 9:00 am EST rain gauge was clogged - precipitation data was nullified from 17:45 EST on 10-7-09 to and including 9:00 am EST on 10-8-09 changed data storage module changed desiccant change RM Young anemometer nose cone assembly all instruments visually inspected and instantaneous data values checked.2010-05-13 13:24:00
2009-08-14 00:00:002009-08-14 00:00:00air temperature/relative humidity probe changed for calibration purposes rain gauge checked - not clogged all instruments visually inspected and instantaneous data values checked changed data storage module changed desiccant.2010-05-13 13:30:00
2008-10-07 00:00:002009-06-02 08:45:00Rain Gauge Closed For Winter2009-07-09 10:14:00
2007-10-16 00:08:002008-06-03 00:00:00Rain gage closed for the winter2008-01-17 16:27:00
2007-09-17 09:00:002007-09-17 10:00:00Changed anemometer prop; and air temperature/relative humidity probe for calibration purposesd2008-03-06 12:42:00
2007-08-27 14:15:002007-08-27 14:30:00Rain gage cleaned; 1 false tip2008-03-06 12:12:00
2006-10-10 12:00:002007-06-07 10:00:007 June 2007, discovered that 1 blade on the anemometer was missing but was unable to ascertain the date on which the damage occurred by examining the WS data2008-03-06 12:15:00
2006-10-10 10:00:002007-06-07 10:00:00Rain gage covered for winter2007-06-12 13:22:00
2006-09-18 12:00:002006-09-18 12:00:00Changed 12V battery and air temperature/relative humidity probe for calibration purposes; rain gage found clogged and was cleared2008-03-06 12:41:00
2006-06-29 19:45:002006-09-18 10:30:00Rain gage clogged; data for this time period nullified2008-03-06 12:07:00
2005-10-21 10:15:002006-06-05 00:45:00Rain gage closed for season, 10/21/05 at 10:15 EST2007-02-23 12:43:00
2005-09-12 09:00:002005-09-12 10:00:00Changed pyranometer and quantum sensor for calibration purposes2008-03-06 12:39:00
2005-08-02 09:00:002005-08-05 10:00:00Changed air temperature/relative humidity probe for calibration purposes2008-03-06 12:38:00
2004-10-13 09:30:002005-06-05 00:00:00Rain gage closed for season 10/13/04 at 10.30 AM DST/9.30 EST2007-02-23 12:43:00
2004-09-28 09:15:002004-09-28 09:30:00DOY 272 Battery changed. no data for 0915 or 09302007-02-23 12:43:00
2004-08-05 00:00:002004-08-05 00:00:00Time adjusted data inserted to replace errant data(12/1/03 0:00 - 6/9/04 10:11) on 5 August 20042008-03-06 13:03:00
2004-06-22 00:00:002004-08-02 09:30:00Rain gage found clogged; unclogged and discovered by examining the data that the problem began on 22 June 20042008-03-06 11:44:00
2003-12-01 09:00:002004-01-06 08:00:0012V battery was not holding charge causing numerous periods of missing data; battery replaced on 6 January 20042008-03-06 12:37:00
2003-12-01 01:00:002004-06-09 10:11:00Datalogger time found to be off by 9 hours and reset; damaged anemometer prop & tail replaced2007-02-23 12:43:00
2003-12-01 00:00:002004-06-09 10:11:00Damaged anemometer prop & tail replaced2008-03-06 11:39:00
2003-10-14 11:30:002004-06-04 11:30:00Rain Gage Covered2007-02-23 12:43:00
2003-09-09 08:00:002003-09-09 08:30:00Pyranometer and quantum sensors change for calibration purposes, wind speed bearing changed in anemometer2008-03-06 10:47:00
2003-07-29 08:45:002003-07-29 09:15:00Air temperature and RH suspended for calibration 0900 - 0915 AM (DST)2007-02-23 12:43:00
2003-02-05 04:30:002003-02-05 08:30:00Data loss 2/5/03 4.30-8.30 possibly due to low battery voltage2007-02-23 12:43:00
2003-01-28 18:45:002003-01-30 10:15:00Data loss 1/28/03 18.45-1/30/03 10.15 possibly due to low battery voltage2007-02-23 12:43:00
2003-01-14 03:34:002003-01-14 09:45:00Data loss 1/14/03 3:45-9:45 possibly due to low battery voltage2007-02-23 12:43:00
2002-10-15 13:00:002003-06-03 09:00:00Rain gage covered 10/15/02 at 1.00 p.m. EST (2 p.m. DST).2002-10-15 00:00:00
2002-08-20 09:00:002002-08-20 09:30:00Air temperature & relative humidity offline2008-03-06 10:33:00
2002-07-24 08:30:002002-07-24 09:15:00Air temperature & relative humidity offline2008-03-06 10:31:00
2002-04-08 13:30:002002-06-04 00:15:00Data lost from 4/8/02 1.30.00 - 6/4/02 12.15.00 - datalogger lost power.2002-06-24 00:00:00
2001-10-11 10:00:002002-06-04 12:00:00Rain gage covered (10:00 EST)2001-10-11 00:00:00
2001-10-11 09:00:002001-10-11 12:00:00Air temperature/relative humidity probe, quantum (PAR) sensor & pyramometer changed for calibration purposes2008-03-06 12:29:00
2001-09-06 00:00:002001-09-06 00:00:00Tipping bucket rain gage was installed to provide precipitation (non-freezing months)2007-02-23 12:43:00
1999-07-26 09:00:001999-07-26 14:00:00Station established on 3 meter tower; variables: air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed & direction, PAR, total solar irradiance2008-03-06 12:26:00
0000-00-00 00:00:002013-07-15 13:30:00Clogged rain gauge was cleared, start date of clog unknown, precipitation data needs to be nullified. This note will be updated once this is done.2013-07-18 09:20:00
0000-00-00 00:00:000000-00-00 00:00:00Sensors are *not* heated during the winter.2008-01-09 14:37:00
0000-00-00 00:00:000000-00-00 00:00:00MME has major gaps, and, early in the record precip nulls are represented by 0s2008-12-12 10:26:00