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Antarctic Microclimate Data

Entry ID: GB-NERC-BAS-AEDC-00002

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Summary

Abstract: Automatic data loggers are often used to monitor environmental variables such as temperature (of air and soil), humidity, wind speed and radiation in microclimates where experimental or ecological studies are being carried out. Some loggers are only in operation for a few weeks or months while others have been run for several years. Loggers have been sited in a wide variety of locations from the ... sub-Antarctic (South Georgia), South Orkney Islands (Signy) various Peninsula sites (as far south as Alexander Island - 70S), and some continental localities (e.g. Victoria Land). These form an important data resource to the climate conditions experienced by Antarctic terrestrial organisms. Various types of logger are used. Sensors tend to be deployed at or near ground level and in and around particular types of vegetation, or other experimental sites, such a cloches. Data are available from 1976 depending on the specific site. All micrometeorological data have been conv
erted to Oracle format and are held in a database that is maintained in the Biological Sciences Data and Resource Centre at BAS. However some raw data are held in additional files of various formats within the Biological Sciences Division. High level locations include Signy Island, South Georgia, Alexander Island, Adelaide Island, Livingston Island and Victoria Land. Loggers used include Grant, Delta-T, Campbell and Squirrels. Victoria Land data for Kay Island and Edmonson Point in 1995 and 1996 was collected under the BIOTEX 1 experiment of the SCAR BIOTAS (Biological Investigations of Terrestrial Antarctic Systems) Programme. An overview of BIOTEX is available as a PDF file. Hosted by the Programma Nazionale Richerche in Antartide (PNRA) of Italy at Terra Nova Bay station in Victoria Land, the expedition was conceived to investigate the hypothesis that: "the closed moss community at Edmonson Point represents the climax stage of a biotic succession along an environment
al and nutritional gradient from isolated cold dry continental endoli
thic communities to warmer, wetter coastal cryptogamic communities enriched by run-off and excreta from sea birds." Data were collected from a variety of habitats and sites and were transferred to Oracle in July and August 1996 with a separate table for each logger/habitat combination. Height above sea level ranged from approximately 5 to 100m above sea level. Variables measured included soil temperature, air temperature, relative humidity, radiation (UV a anfd UV b), soil moisture and wind speed.

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: -54.33

S: -74.25

E: 165.0

W: -70.0

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: British Antarctic Survey

Dataset Title: Antarctic Microclimate Data

Dataset Originator/Creator: British Antarctic Survey

Dataset Title: Antarctic Microclimate Data

Dataset Series Name: BIOTEX1 microclimate data

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1976-01-01

Location Keywords

CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA > Adelaide Island

CONTINENT > ANTARCTICA > Livingston Island

Science Keywords

AGRICULTURE > SOILS > SOIL TEMPERATURE

ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE > AIR TEMPERATURE

ISO Topic Category

BIOTA

CLIMATOLOGY/METEOROLOGY/ATMOSPHERE

Platform

FIELD SURVEYS

GROUND-BASED OBSERVATIONS

FIELD INVESTIGATION

Instrument

ANEMOMETERS

HUMIDITY SENSORS

Project

BIOTAS > Biological Investigation of Terrestrial Antarctic Systems

Quality Various - internally documented The quality of the data varies, however quality status is internally documented within the data set. Some data was listed as being; Raw Data logged during a period when the instrument functioned correctly but having undergone no processing.

Access Constraints By Arrangement with PI Access is by arrangement with the Principal Investigator (PI), or Responsible Scientist / Initial Contact.

Ancillary Keywords

AIR TEMPERATURE

CLOCHES

Data Set Progress

IN WORK

Originating Center

BAS/AEDC/BSD

Data Center

Polar Data Centre, British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, United Kingdom

Data Center URL: http://www.antarctica.ac.uk//about_bas/our_organisation/eid/pdc/ind...
Dataset ID: GB-NERC-BAS-AEDC-00002 > Antarctic Microclimate Data

Data Center Personnel
Name: HELEN CAMPBELL Contact Address: Polar Data Centre British Antarctic Survey

Personnel

HELEN J. PEAT

Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Phone: 01223 251400

Fax: 01223 362616

Email: H.Peat at bas.ac.uk

Contact Address:

British Antarctic Survey

Terrestrial and Freshwater Life Sciences Division

High Cross, Madingley Road

City: Cambridge

Postal Code: CB3 0ET

Country: United Kingdom

Publications/References

For the BIOTEX1 data: Smith RIL & Wynn-Williams DD. 1996. Biotex 1 at Terra Nova Bay, 1995/1996. The first BIOTAS international expedition comes to fruition. BIOTAS Newsletter, No. 10, 5-7.

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2004-10-01

Last DIF Revision Date: 2010-04-27

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