High frequency measurements from lake-based "Blue Box" monitoring stations in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (1994-2019, ongoing)

Summary

Abstract: 

As part of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research program, continuous stage (lake level), ice surface ablation, surface PAR, and underwater PAR are collected at various lakes throughout the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. This package contains data measured at 20 minute intervals for Lake Fryxell, Lake Hoare, East Lake Bonney, and West Lake Bonney in Taylor Valley as well as Lake Miers in Miers Valley. MCM sometimes refers to these measurements as "blue box" data because the instrumentation used to be housed in a blue box.

Date Range: 

December 5, 1994 to June 30, 2019
Data Citation
Doran, P.T. 2020. High frequency measurements from lake-based "Blue Box" monitoring stations in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (1994-2019, ongoing). Environmental Data Initiative. DOI: 10.6073/pasta/55af539736e63439fdcad8b2d98a7e0f. Dataset accessed 28 April 2024.
Dataset(s)

Description: 

Lake Fryxell Blue Box Data

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label: DATASET_CODE
  • Definition: Code to designate the table name, here LIMNO_BLUE_BOX
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
LOCATION NAME
  • Label: Location Name
  • Definition: Name of lake where measurement was made
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
YEAR_FIELD
  • Label:
  • Definition: Year during which the measurement was made
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: yyyy
  • Missing values: None specified
DAY_OF_YEAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: Day of year during which the measurement was made. Also known as Julian Day.
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: ddd
  • Missing values: None specified
HOUR_AND_MINUTE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Hour and Minute during which the measurement was made. Format is military time
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: HHMM
  • Missing values: None specified
DECIMAL_TIME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Decimal Time.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: decimal_time
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
DATE_TIME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Date on which measurement was made
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH:MI
  • Missing values: None specified
STAGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Lake level measured continuously by a presser transducer fixed to a line an anchor and buoy.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: centimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
ABLATION
  • Label:
  • Definition: Continuous lake level ice ablation measurement using a pressure transducer suspended by its cable through the ice.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: centimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
SURFACE PAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: photon flux on the ice surface from all directions
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: umol s-1 m-2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
UW_PAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: photon flux under the ice surface from all directions
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: umol s-1 m-2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
UW_TEMPERATURE
  • Label:
  • Definition: under the ice surface temperature
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: celsius
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
COMMENTS
  • Label: Comments
  • Definition: Comments
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

File: 

LIMNO_BLUE_BOX_FRYXELL.csv (58.56 MB)

Description: 

Lake Hoare Blue Box Data

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label: DATASET_CODE
  • Definition: Code to designate the table name, here LIMNO_BLUE_BOX
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
LOCATION NAME
  • Label: Location Name
  • Definition: Name of lake where measurement was made
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
YEAR_FIELD
  • Label:
  • Definition: Year during which the measurement was made
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: yyyy
  • Missing values: None specified
DAY_OF_YEAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: Day of year during which the measurement was made. Also known as Julian Day.
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: ddd
  • Missing values: None specified
HOUR_AND_MINUTE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Hour and Minute during which the measurement was made. Format is military time
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: HHMM
  • Missing values: None specified
DECIMAL_TIME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Decimal Time.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: decimal_time
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
DATE_TIME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Date on which measurement was made
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH:MI
  • Missing values: None specified
STAGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Lake level measured continuously by a presser transducer fixed to a line an anchor and buoy.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: centimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
ABLATION
  • Label:
  • Definition: Continuous lake level ice ablation measurement using a pressure transducer suspended by its cable through the ice.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: centimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
SURFACE PAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: photon flux on the ice surface from all directions
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: umol s-1 m-2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
UW_PAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: photon flux under the ice surface from all directions
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: umol s-1 m-2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
UW_TEMPERATURE
  • Label:
  • Definition: under the ice surface temperature
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: celsius
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
COMMENTS
  • Label: Comments
  • Definition: Comments
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

File: 

LIMNO_BLUE_BOX_HOARE.csv (59.83 MB)

Description: 

East Lake Bonney Blue Box Data

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label: DATASET_CODE
  • Definition: Code to designate the table name, here LIMNO_BLUE_BOX
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
LOCATION NAME
  • Label: Location Name
  • Definition: Name of lake where measurement was made
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
YEAR_FIELD
  • Label:
  • Definition: Year during which the measurement was made
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: yyyy
  • Missing values: None specified
DAY_OF_YEAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: Day of year during which the measurement was made. Also known as Julian Day.
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: ddd
  • Missing values: None specified
HOUR_AND_MINUTE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Hour and Minute during which the measurement was made. Format is military time
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: HHMM
  • Missing values: None specified
DECIMAL_TIME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Decimal Time.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: decimal_time
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
DATE_TIME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Date on which measurement was made
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH:MI
  • Missing values: None specified
STAGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Lake level measured continuously by a presser transducer fixed to a line an anchor and buoy.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: centimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
ABLATION
  • Label:
  • Definition: Continuous lake level ice ablation measurement using a pressure transducer suspended by its cable through the ice.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: centimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
SURFACE PAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: photon flux on the ice surface from all directions
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: umol s-1 m-2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
UW_PAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: photon flux under the ice surface from all directions
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: umol s-1 m-2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
UW_TEMPERATURE
  • Label:
  • Definition: under the ice surface temperature
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: celsius
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
COMMENTS
  • Label: Comments
  • Definition: Comments
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

File: 

LIMNO_BLUE_BOX_ELBONNEY.csv (56 MB)

Description: 

West Lake Bonney Blue Box Data

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label: DATASET_CODE
  • Definition: Code to designate the table name, here LIMNO_BLUE_BOX
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
LOCATION NAME
  • Label: Location Name
  • Definition: Name of lake where measurement was made
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
YEAR_FIELD
  • Label:
  • Definition: Year during which the measurement was made
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: yyyy
  • Missing values: None specified
DAY_OF_YEAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: Day of year during which the measurement was made. Also known as Julian Day.
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: ddd
  • Missing values: None specified
HOUR_AND_MINUTE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Hour and Minute during which the measurement was made. Format is military time
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: HHMM
  • Missing values: None specified
DECIMAL_TIME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Decimal Time.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: decimal_time
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
DATE_TIME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Date on which measurement was made
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH:MI
  • Missing values: None specified
STAGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Lake level measured continuously by a presser transducer fixed to a line an anchor and buoy.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: centimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
ABLATION
  • Label:
  • Definition: Continuous lake level ice ablation measurement using a pressure transducer suspended by its cable through the ice.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: centimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
SURFACE PAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: photon flux on the ice surface from all directions
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: umol s-1 m-2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
UW_PAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: photon flux under the ice surface from all directions
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: umol s-1 m-2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
UW_TEMPERATURE
  • Label:
  • Definition: under the ice surface temperature
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: celsius
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
COMMENTS
  • Label: Comments
  • Definition: Comments
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

File: 

LIMNO_BLUE_BOX_WLBONNEY.csv (53.58 MB)

Description: 

Lake Miers Blue Box Data

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label: DATASET_CODE
  • Definition: Code to designate the table name, here LIMNO_BLUE_BOX
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
LOCATION NAME
  • Label: Location Name
  • Definition: Name of lake where measurement was made
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
YEAR_FIELD
  • Label:
  • Definition: Year during which the measurement was made
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: yyyy
  • Missing values: None specified
DAY_OF_YEAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: Day of year during which the measurement was made. Also known as Julian Day.
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: ddd
  • Missing values: None specified
HOUR_AND_MINUTE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Hour and Minute during which the measurement was made. Format is military time
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: HHMM
  • Missing values: None specified
DECIMAL_TIME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Decimal Time.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: decimal_time
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
DATE_TIME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Date on which measurement was made
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH:MI
  • Missing values: None specified
STAGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Lake level measured continuously by a presser transducer fixed to a line an anchor and buoy.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: centimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
ABLATION
  • Label:
  • Definition: Continuous lake level ice ablation measurement using a pressure transducer suspended by its cable through the ice.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: centimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
SURFACE PAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: photon flux on the ice surface from all directions
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: umol s-1 m-2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
UW_PAR
  • Label:
  • Definition: photon flux under the ice surface from all directions
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: umol s-1 m-2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
UW_TEMPERATURE
  • Label:
  • Definition: under the ice surface temperature
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: celsius
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Blank = None given
COMMENTS
  • Label: Comments
  • Definition: Comments
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

File: 

LIMNO_BLUE_BOX_MIERS.csv (7.95 MB)

Short name: 

LIMNO_BLUE_BOX

Dataset ID: 

3003
People

Principal Investigator(s): 

Peter T. Doran

Contact: 

McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER Information Manager

Associated Personnel: 

Field Technician
Krista F. Myers
Data Manager
Renée F. Brown
Former Field Crew
Maciej K. Obryk
Former Field Crew
Hilary A. Dugan
Former Field Crew
Kyle Cronin
Former Data Manager
Chris Gardner
Former Data Manager
Inigo San Gil
Related

Related links: 

Blue Box Bible
Methodology

Methods: 

Details

The details of all Blue Box methods can be found in the "Blue Box Bible". There is information about sensors, manuals of such sensors, field equipment diagram Field Setup changes (hardware changed at each lake), Software changes, and notes. The specific programs used are included for each lake. Sensors are attached to CR10X data logger. Sampling interval of measurements is 60 seconds. Every 20 minutes program calculates average and record it in the storage module. Data were downloaded every year by beginning of the season (October-November) and by the end of the season (January-February) and cleaned from error data. Please see in the general comments section for the details on sensors and field setup. Programs can be found in technical documentation aka Blue Box Bible on this website

About the Log Files

Log files (changes made to the blue box dataset) and detailed diagrams of the blue box sensor, loggers and experiment deployment, plus sensor specifications and some operational parameters can be found here.

Notes on missing data
Missing data are mostly due to battery blackouts. Those points are represented as blanks in the database. if the blackout affects entire rows / dates, those may be missing.

Method Images: 

Maintenance: 

Log files (changes made to the blue box dataset) and detailed diagrams of the blue box sensor, loggers and experiment deployment, plus sensor specifications and some operationational paramenters can be found in the Blue Box Bible.

in April 2016, after a revision of the Blue Box data, Peter Doran, John Priscu and Maciek Obryk concluded that West Lake Bonney Underwater PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiation) data between 8-Jul-2008 and 12-Nov-2012 is questionable and likely inaccurate. Therefore, the UW_PAR data for West Lake Bonney and above date range has been replaced with blanks. Subsequent data derivatives and data snapshots have been updated accordingly

Data and metadata were moved into DEIMS on 2014. In 2016, data package was readied for LTER NIS. San Gil

Categories

Research Section: 

MCM Keywords: 

Keywords: 

Metadata Download