Soil temperature, soil moisture and thaw depth, Barrow, Alaska, Ver. 1

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5440/1121134
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NGEE Arctic Record ID: NGA065
Data Version: 1.0
Abstract

This dataset consists of field measurements of soil properties made during 2012 and 2013 in areas A to D of Intensive Site 1 at the Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments (NGEE) Arctic site near Barrow, Alaska. Included are i) weekly measurements of thaw depth, soil moisture, presence and depth of standing water and soil temperature made during the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons (June to September) and ii) half-hourly measurements of soil temperature logged continuously during the period June 2012 to September 2013. 

The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a 10-year research effort (2012-2022) to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research.

The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska.

Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy’s Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).

Authors
Victoria Sloan (cevls@bristol.ac)
Jennifer Liebig ()
Melanie Hahn (mshahn@lbl.gov)
Bryan Curtis (Curtis@colorado.edu)
Jonathan Brooks ()
Alistair Rogers (arogers@bnl.gov) 0000-0001-9262-7430
Colleen Iversen (iversencm@ornl.gov) 0000-0001-8293-3450
Richard Norby (rnorby@utk.edu) 0000-0002-0238-9828
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Dataset Citation
Victoria Sloan, Jennifer Liebig, Melanie Hahn, Bryan Curtis, Jonathan Brooks, Alistair Rogers, Colleen Iversen, Richard Norby. 2014. Soil temperature, soil moisture and thaw depth, Barrow, Alaska, Ver. 1. Next Generation Ecosystem Experiments Arctic Data Collection, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. Dataset accessed on [INSERT_DATE] at https://doi.org/10.5440/1121134.
Dates
2012-06-18 - current
Geographic Location
NGEE Arctic Barrow Study Site
North71.35
South71.2
East-156.4
West-156.7
Place Keywords:
Area A | Area D | Barrow | North Slope | Alaska | Intensive site 1 | Utqiagvik, Alaska | Area C | Area B
Subject Keywords:
Soil temperature | Soil temperature | Volumetric soil moisture | Soil moisture | Standing water depth | Standing water presence | Standing water depth | Thaw depth | Thaw depth |
GCMD Keywords
N/A
Methodology
This dataset consists of i) weekly field measurements of soil temperature (digital thermometer), thaw depth (metal probe) and volumetric soil moisture (5 cm hand held probe) taken close to 1 x 1 m vegetation community composition plots and ii) half hourly soil temperature records from permanent logging equipment. Weekly Measurements: The measurements described below were made weekly during the growing seasons of 2012 and 2013 (mid-June to early-September) by the vegetation dynamics team. Additional measurements of thaw depth only were collected in mid-September of both years by the biogeochemistry team. Volumetric soil moisture (m3 m-3) was measured at five random locations around the margins of each vegetation plot using a hand-held sensor (SM300 Soil Moisture Sensor, HH2 Moisture Meter, Delta-T, Cambridge, UK). Data provided are the mean of the five measurements. The moisture probe length was 5 cm, thus the measurement represents the moisture content of the 0 – 5 cm increment of soil. A site specific calibration was undertaken according to the sensor and moisture meter manuals (http://www.delta-t.co.uk/product-display.asp?id=HH2%20Product&div=Soil%20Science, http://www.delta-t.co.uk/product-display.asp?id=SM300%20Product&div=Soil%20Science), using blocks of soil obtained from Areas A, B and C. All three calibrations produced similar results to the standard ‘organic’ soil setting, so this setting was used throughout measurement period. The moisture sensor is unable to read in saturated soils: where this was the case, a value of 1.0 m3 m-3 is recorded. Standing water presence or absence was recorded in all vegetation plots at the same time as volumetric soil moisture measurements. Standing water depth (cm) was recorded to the nearest 0.5 cm in center of vegetation plots using a metal ruler at the same time as volumetric soil moisture measurements. Thaw depth was measured to the nearest 0.5 cm by inserting a metal probe with a taped scale at five random locations around the margin of each vegetation plot. Data provided are the mean of the five measurements. The top of the green moss layer was assumed to be 0 cm. Where standing water was present on the plot, the measurement was made by feeling for the soil surface beneath the water. Soil temperature (oC) was measured at 5 cm intervals throughout the thawed soil using an RT610B Waterproof Digital Thermometer (Thermoworks, Utah, USA, http://www.thermoworks.com/products/low_cost/RT610b.html). Missing values of -9999 for depths below measured values indicate that soil was not thawed at this time. The thermometer was checked in ice / water mixture prior to initial field measurements in June 2012, when it read between 0 and 1 oC. Probe was checked again on 27th August 2012, when readings in similar conditions were between 1 – 2 oC. The battery was changed in the probe at this time; following which, readings in iced water were between 0 and 1 oC. Probe was checked monthly during 2013 season, and readings were consistently close to 0 oC. On 1st July 2012, the temperature probe malfunctioned. It was repaired and the temperature data collected on the 2nd July. On 27th August 2012, weather conditions prevented a full set of temperature measurements. On 30th July 2012, and in the period 30th July – 2nd September 2013, no soil temperature measurements were attempted owing to time constraints. Soil temperature loggers: Soil temperature (oC) was recorded using HOBO Tidbit v2 loggers (Onset, Bourne, MA, USA, http://www.onsetcomp.com/products/data-loggers/utbi-001). Loggers were buried in the soil attached to zip-ties. Top of soil and locations with standing water were the same as for thaw depth measurements. All loggers recorded at synchronous half-hour intervals. In 2012, loggers were installed at 5 cm depth in the centers, rims and troughs of two polygons in each of areas A, B, C and D. Loggers recorded from 23rd June 2012 to 17th June 2013. In June 2013, loggers at 5 cm depth were retained as described in areas A and B, but were removed from areas C and D. Additional loggers were installed at 15 cm depth adjacent to the existing 5 cm depth loggers in areas A and B on 10th July 2013, and at 25 cm depth 8th August 2013. Short data gaps (1-3 days) occur when loggers were removed for readout. This occurred on 2nd July 2012, 1st September 2012, 17th June 2013 and 1st September 2013. Loggers remain in situ as of March 2014.
Related References
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Metadata Contact
Contact information for the individual or organization that is knowledgeable about the data.
Person: Victoria Sloan
Organization: University of Bristol
Email: cevls@bristol.ac.uk
Point of Contact
Contact information for the individual or organization that is knowledgeable about the data.
Person: Richard Norby
Organization: University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Email: rnorby@utk.edu
Dataset Usage Rights
Public Datasets

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Distribution Point of Contact
Contact: Data Center Support
Organization: Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments (NGEE) Arctic Project, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Email: support@ngee-arctic.ornl.gov