Tropical Ecology, Assessment, and Monitoring Network Climate Monitoring Protocol Version 3.0 Cite as: TEAM Network. 2010. Climate Monitoring Protocol, v. 3.0. Tropical Ecology, Assessment and Monitoring Network, Science and Knowledge Division, Conservation International, Arlington, VA, USA.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Acknowledgments This protocol and all other TEAM protocols are collective works. They were developed and reviewed by numerous scientists. We thank specially Yadvinder Malhi, Helene Muller-Landau, Bill Munger, Karl Kauffman and Steve Wofsy.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Table of Contents 1! INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE.............................................................................................. 4! 2! GOALS AND IMPLEMENTATION ....................................................................................... 6! 3! BASIC EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................... 7! 3.1! Base -UT10 tower..........................................................................
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 1 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE Climate change has been identified as one of the main threats to humanity and to the long-term persistence of the living world in general (IPCC 2007, Wright 2005, Malhi et al. 2008, Rockström et al. 2009). Only 15 out of 50,000 long-term time series of biological and bioclimate variables come out of tropical areas (less than 0.03%) (IPCC 2007).
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 5. Integrated Environmental Assessment: Anticipate the use of the data in the development of environmental assessments such as climate change and its effects on other systems. 6. Historical Significance: Strive to maintain climate observing systems that have been operating for long time frames (decades, century) and maintain high quality data. 7. Complementary Data: Give higher priority to the deployment of climate observing systems in data-poor, unrepresented areas. 8.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 This document describes in detail all the necessary steps to setup and implement the TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol. It has been written with non-experts in mind, so that anyone with basic technical skills can understand the process of assembling a climate station and collecting consistent and reliable climate measurements in tropical forests.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 3 BASIC EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION In order to be an adequate tool for monitoring climate, the sensors and equipment used in the Climate Protocol must comply with minimum standards of quality and accuracy required by other standard climate monitoring efforts (e.g. United States Climate Reference Network at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration). The following section describes briefly each of the components required to implement the TEAM Climate Protocol.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 3.3.1 Temperature – Relative Humidity Sensor Vaisala HMP45C The TEAM Climate Protocol uses the Vaisala HMP45C which measures both relative humidity (%) and air temperature (ºC). The sensor is housed in a radiation shield to avoid the measurements being affected by solar loading. The shield type used for this sensor is an aspirated radiation shield (MetOne 076B-5), which stabilizes the readings by allowing air to move past the sensor.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Variable Range Resolution Mode of measurement /observation Instantaneous Required measurement uncertainty Output averaging time 1 min Air 0.1 K -80 – +60°C 0.1 K (> -40°C and ! +40°C) temperature Relative 0 – 100% 1% Instantaneous 1% 1 min Humidity Precipitation 0 – 500 mm 0.1 mm Totals 0.1 mm (! 5 mm) n/a (daily) 2% (> 5 mm) Solar net Totals 0.4 MJ m-2 (! 8 MJ m-2) n/a Not specified 1 J m-2 radiation 5% (> 8 MJ m-2) (daily) Table 1.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 • • Ideally, the climate station should be located in a clearing with an unobstructed view of the sky (no obstacles above 5 degrees from the horizon) to fulfill the siting requirements of the solar radiation sensor (Level 1)(see Table 2).
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 4.2 Level 1 Siting Ideally, and to fulfill the requirements of the global solar radiation sensor, the climate station should be located in a clearing that is large enough to allow for a nearly complete view of the sky dome; no obstacles above 5 degrees from the horizon should obstruct the view of the sky, since incident and diffuse radiation above 5 degrees are not negligible.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Figure 1. Workflow that illustrates the steps for siting the climate station. In Level 1, all sensors (precipitation, temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation) are together at the same location. In Level 2, the station is sited using the requirements of the temperature/RH and precipitation sensors and the radiation sensor is located at an alternate point within 100 m of the climate station and connected to the same data logger.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 4.3 Level 2 Siting Since the requirements of the solar radiation sensor are difficult to meet in many tropical forest sites, an alternate strategy is proposed here to locate the station based on the siting requirements of the temperature/RH and precipitation sensors (Table 2).
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 The climate equipment itself requires an area of 60-65 m2, where the tower and sensors will be installed. However an area of this size is not enough to sit the station appropriately. As described in the section above, different sensors need to comply with specific distance requirements to nearest obstacles such as trees, houses and roads (WMO 2008, EPA 1995).
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Figure 3. Workflow describing the main steps for siting the climate station (Level 2).
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Figure 4. Diagram describing siting process. A. Initial location is at least 4H units away from the tallest obstacle in the clearing of height H. B. The next obstacle of height T should be at least 4T units away from the station; it is not (within the second dashed circle). Therefore the station needs to be moved west. C. New location of the station is now at least 4T units away from obstacle of height T (and still 4H units away from obstacle of height H). D.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 4.3.2 Siting the Radiation Sensor There are two possibilities for locating the radiation sensor based on the local conditions and structures present at the site: A suitable location for the radiation sensor is within reach of the climate station (within 100 m of it), such that it can be connected to the same data logger as the other sensors (see below). A suitable location for the radiation sensor CANNOT be located within 100 m of the climate station.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 4.4 Level 3 Siting If the radiation sensor cannot be located within the vicinity of the main climate station, a separate location that fulfills the siting requirements of the sensor will need to be found. The radiation sensor will be connected to a dedicated data logger and operate independently from the rest of the climate station. Autonomous 1-2 channel data loggers that are battery powered are relatively cheap and rugged enough for field conditions (see Appendix A.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 A standardized list of equipment and whether it should be acquired as part of Level 1, 2, or 3 siting is shown in Appendix A.1. Once all the equipment has been received it should be registered by the Site Manager in the TEAM portal using the Site Management Tool (under MyTEAM area: http://www.teamnetwork.org/en/network_members). 4.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 2. Take pictures: This information is crucial to get accurate information about the site where the station is located. Repeat this process every year to document changes in the physical characteristics of the site. • Mount a camera with a wide angle lens on a tripod, 1.5 m above the ground in the exact location where the station will be located. Level the camera so it is completely horizontal and not angled. • Take a picture facing north.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 5.1 Testing all the instrumentation upon receipt As soon as the equipment is received, the data logger and sensors should be tested before final assembly of the climate station. This testing can happen indoors and the data logger will need to be connected to a computer to examine the data. This section describes this process to ensure everything is working correctly.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Figure 5. Main wiring diagram of the climate station showing the connections between main components.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Figure 6. Main components of the CR1000 data logger. Figure 7. Main screen of PC200W software.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 7. Establish communication with the data logger: Select CR1000 on the left and hit the Connect button on the upper left corner. Once the two are connected you will see the time clicking on the bottom right corner of the main PC200W window. 8. Clock Synchronization: This is crucial to ensure that all climate data are properly time stamped.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 each TEAM Site and are required for use. Any changes will be done by the Network Office which will also notify TEAM Sites to update their data logger programs To Upload the Standard Data Collection Program, hit the Send Program button on the Data logger Program region of the main window. You will get a warning screen, advising you that any program already in the data logger will be erased; say YES.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Collection of test data: Once the sensors are all connected, turn the data logger back on and wait for about 1-2 hours for data collection. Slowly add 1/3 of a liter of water (about 10 mm) to the rain gauge over a 5-10 minute period. 5.1.4 Extract the data from the data logger Examine the data collected to ensure the sensors and data logger are working properly.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 5.2.1 Base Installation The tower is based on top of a concrete foundation that must be installed at the site. A square hole of 61 cm on the side and 61 cm deep must be dug out and a concrete foundation built out of a 5 x 10 x 61 cm lumber square (inside dimensions). The square and 4 stakes centered around each side will provide the base for the concrete foundation.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Install the charge regulator: Before mounting the solar panel to the tower, install the power regulator (Morningstar Sun Keeper 6) to the back of the solar panel. This ensures that the current coming from the panel is regulated and the current from the battery does not drain to the panel. WHEN INSTALLING THE REGULATOR MAKE SURE THE PANEL IS COVERED OR FACING DOWN TO AVOID EXPERIENCING ELECTRIC SHOCK.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 5.5.1 Vaisala HMP45C Temperature/RH sensor Two HMP45C are housed inside a MetOne Aspirated Radiation Shield. (076B). Follow these steps to mount the shield and the sensors inside it. Quick description of the radiation shield: The shield consists of two main components: 1) a large umbrella-like roof that contains the fan and 2) a lower tube that is attached through four clamps to the upper portion and houses the sensors.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Replace the top cover of the cabling box: Once the sensors are connected to the cabling box replace the top of the box ensuring the sensor terminal cables feed out of the rubberized wedge located on one side of the cabling box cover. Make sure that the sensor terminal cables are not tensed inside the box, and tighten the screws of the cover to secure it firmly.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Figure 11. Diagram showing the correct way to connect the power cable terminals to the data logger. 5.5.2 Licor200X Solar radiation sensor It is recommended to install two pyranometers for redundancy and to account for seasonal changes in solar path. If the pyranometer is not at the very top of the base tower, the base tower could shade it during some periods of the year depending on the geographical location of the field station.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Pyranometer at an alternate location: Follow the same steps for pyranometers that will be installed at an alternate location within 100 m of the weather station (Level 2) or at a completely different location with a dedicated data logger (Level 3). In such cases the cross arm will be attached to a different structure depending on the location chosen.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 5.6 Finishing steps 5.6.1 Secure the weather resistant enclosure Once all the sensors and power sources are connected together, it is important to seal and secure the enclosure so the data logger, battery and connectors are in a stable environment and protected against the elements, insects and other threats that can compromise the integrity of the equipment.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Convert the file from the card into a readable format: • From the PC200W tools menu, select Card Convert. This will open up the Card Convert Window. • Select the Card Drive and the Output directory. • Press the Start Conversion to generate the text file. All Climate Measurement files should be stored in this directory in the future. Visualizing the data: The data can be examined with any graphing program (including Excel).
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 6.1.2 Retrieving the Data from a dedicated data logger (Level 3). TO BE COMPLETED. 6.1.3 Extract the Climate Measurement Data File from the Memory Card The following steps describe the process to extract the Climate Measurement Data file Open the PC200W software. Create local storage directory: Establish a local directory to store Climate Measurement Files. Convert the file from the card into a readable format: • From the PC200W tools menu, select Card Convert.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 6.2.1 Measure and record the event After the event has passed, measure the rainfall using the enclosed dipstick and write it down together with the approximate beginning and end time in the Heavy Rainfall Events section of the Sensor Calibration Form (Appendix A.4). 6.2.2 Submit the data At the end of the month, submit the data in the Extreme rainfall events form as part of the regular data submission process . See Section 6.1.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 6.3.3 Enclosure Maintenance Check the integrity of the enclosure at least monthly (preferably every two weeks). First check the outside and make sure the enclosure is solid and there are no obvious breaches or rusting spots developing on the external surface. If any are detected, treat immediately by sanding the area and applying antirust paint. Look for ant or termite lines going into the enclosure and destroy them. Open the enclosure and check the humidity indicator.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Precipitation gauge (TB4): Inspect the precipitation gauge every time the station is visited. Remove any debris from the collection funnel or debris screen. Every two weeks, remove the cover of the gauge to make sure no insects or other animals are present inside. Carefully check that the tipping bucket mechanism is moving freely (DO NOT tip it because a rainfall event will be recorded in the data logger).
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TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 6.4.1 Temperature/RH sensor (Vaisala HMP45C) The sensor head should be recalibrated every two years (the manufacturer recommends every year, but keeping duplicate sensors calibrated annually is expensive). However, the first time this is done, one sensor would need to be operational for two years while the duplicate is sent out for calibration at the end of the first year.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Figure 13. Diagram illustrating operation and calibration schedules for Temperature/RH sensors (also applies to the radiation sensors). Sensors are sent out for calibration at the end of their second year of operation except for the first year, when sensor 2 is sent out (to get sensors out of sync and allow alternation). During year 2 and afterwards there are always 2 sensors operational and one is out for calibration (and can be used as a spare when it returns). 6.4.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 6.4.3 Solar radiation (LI 200X) The Licor LI 200X should be sent out for calibration every 2 years. As with the temperature sensor, however, send out for calibration one of the duplicates at the end of the first year of operation to keep two sensors always operating in alternate schedules (see section 6.4.1 and Figure 13). Follow these steps to replace the solar radiation sensor (you will need to fill in the Sensor Calibration Form).
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Submit information to the TEAM portal Solar Radiation (LI 200X) Sent to manufacturer for calibration. Fill in information on the Sensor Calibration Form Submit information to the TEAM portal Every two years1 Table 6. Summary of calibration process and schedule for the sensors used in the TEAM Climate Protocol. 1 Schedule for the first year of operation is slightly different; see section 6.4.1 for details. 7 REFERENCES CITED Andelman, S. J., & Willig, M. R. 2004.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 NRC 1999. Adequacy of Climate Observing Systems. Panel on climate observing systems status. Climate Research Committee, National Research Council, National Academies Press. Nystuen, J.A. 1999. Relative performance of automatic rain gauges under differental rainfall conditions. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 16(8):1025-1043, Phillips, O., Y. Malhi, et al. 1998. Changes in the Carbon Balance of Tropical Forests: Evidence from Long-Term Plots.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Calibration. A process to adjust measurements from a sensor to a universally defined standard of measurement. For example, a thermometer can be calibrated by measuring the boiling point of distilled water at 0 m above sea level and re-setting this value to 100 °C. Each sensor follows specific calibration procedures at defined intervals of time to minimize measurement bias. Charge regulator.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Memory Card. Device to store climate data collected by the data logger (usually a 32-64 MB Compact Flash card). The data logger partitions the memory card in a special way to maximize the amount of data stored. Metadata. Data about other data. In general, metadata is structured or standardized using a scheme to capture it and make it interchangeable and easily readable. Climate metadata includes details about the sensors (e.g. type, make, model, calibration, etc.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Sensor Calibration Form. Field form to keep track of sensor calibration information such as date when sensor was sent for calibration, serial numbers of sensor in calibration and replacement sensors, etc. All information from the Sensor Calibration Form needs to be uploaded to the TEAM portal where it will be stored as downloadable metadata. Site Metadata Field Form.
9 APPENDIX A.1.
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10 APPENDIX A.2.
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TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 11 APPENDIX A.3.
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TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 12 APPENDIX A.4.
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TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 13 APPENDIX A.5.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 Name of Person recording this information Climate Monitoring Protocol Sensor Calibration Metadata Form v. 1.0 LAST NAME FIRST NAME Climate Station ID CL Site Code Point Please complete one of these forms for EACH sensor being calibrated. Complete the first half of the form when sending the sensor out for calibration and then complete the bottom half when the sensor has been received.
TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0 14 APPENDIX A.6.
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