Longitudinal microclimate data provide essential information on seasonal and annual trends in important measures of the physical environment. Here, we provide data sets from two independent microclimate stations reporting air temperature, soil temperature (at three depths), soil volumetric water content (VWC), and precipitation in an open forest clearing near Lapeer Michigan. This data is versatile and has multiple applications.  For example, this data has been used in an environmental education setting to teach college students how to explore, analyze, and report on climate patterns including, but not limited to, the following: 1) attenuation of air temperature fluctuations at increasing soil depths, 2) linking discrete precipitation events with shifts in volumetric water content, and 3) using time series analysis to summarize and compare air and soil temperatures between seasons and years.  This data is also useful for environmental research exploring recent changes in climate conditions in the United State Midwest region and could be used to help independently validate model-based predictions of climate conditions (e.g., BIOCLIM). 

Data Type:  Data collected was collected from microclimatic sensors installed in May 2018 (sensor location and the position of each sensor summarized below).  All data was collected and stored on Em50® data loggers purchased from METER USA/Decagon Devices (Pullman, WA). All sensors listed below were also purchases from METER USA/Decagon Devices (Pullman, WA). Excel output summarizing environmental variables (listed below) for each METER environmental sensing station set up near Lapeer Michigan (USA).

Data Collection Location and Intervals: Microclimate stations were installed in the center of a large forest clearing on the Fish Lake Environmental Education Center property (Eastern Michigan University).  Vegetation in this clearing is low stature (<1m high) consists predominantly of rhizomatous and caespitose grasses and introduced forbs.  Each station was >70m from the forested edge of the clearing and stations were positioned ~30m apart.  Data from all sensors was collected at 15-minute intervals except where noted in the Usage Notes below.  The soil association for the region is characterized as a Boyer-Montclam-McBride association with well-drained soils tending towards loamy sand to sandy clay loam subsoil (Earle 1972).  At the site of sensor installation, soils have been characterized as Montclam loamy sand with shallow (2-6 %) slopes (Earle 1972).

Citations:

1. Earle, Jr., G.H. (1972). Soil survey of Lapeer County, Michigan. U.S. Government Printing Office.

Data collection and update policy:  Data collection will be ongoing and data will be posted on an annual basis.  Please contact Brian Connolly if you need data that are more recent.

FL#1 Sensor Location:

            Lapeer, Michigan (USA)

Latitude:           43.114888°

Longitude:       -83.248558°

Microclimate sensors installed at FL#1 sensor station:

-Port 1 [VP-4 Sensor]: Measurement of Relative Humidity, Air Temperature (°C), and Barometric Pressure (kPA) at 1.5 meters above the soil’s surface.

-Port 2 [ECRN-100 Precipitation Gauge]:  Measurement of High Resolution Precipitation (mm); funnel collection diameter: 16 cm.

-Port 3 [ECT/RT-1 Temperature Probe]: Measurement of Mineral Soil Temperature (°C) at 5 cm depth

-Port 4 [5TM Moisture/Temperature Probe]: Measurement of Mineral Soil Temperature (°C) and Volumetric Water Content (m³/ m³ VWC) at 10 cm depth.

-Port 5 [5TM Moisture/Temperature Probe]: Measurement of Mineral Soil Temperature (°C) and Volumetric Water Content (m³/ m³ VWC) at 20 cm depth.

FL#2 Sensor Location:

Lapeer, Michigan (USA)

Latitude:           43.114854°

Longitude:       -83.248258°

Microclimate sensors installed at FL#2 sensor station:

-Port 1 [VP-4 Sensor]: Measurement of Relative Humidity, Air Temperature (°C), and Barometric Pressure (kPA) at 1.5 meters above the soil’s surface.

-Port 2 [ECT/RT-1 Temperature Probe]: Measurement of Mineral Soil Temperature (°C) at 5 cm depth

-Port 3 [5TM Moisture/Temperature Probe]: Measurement of Mineral Soil Temperature (°C) and Volumetric Water Content (m³/ m³ VWC) at 10 cm depth.

-Port 4 [ECT/RT-1 Temperature Probe]: Measurement of Mineral Soil Temperature (°C) at 20 cm depth

FL1 date ranges

2018: 10 Jun 2018 - 31 Dec 2018

2019: 1 Jan 2019 - 31 Dec 2019*

2020: 1 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2020*

2021: 1 Jan 2021 - 26 Mar 2021

* -See notes below about data collection notes during these ranges.  “Data_collection_error_check” column has been added to excel output: scores of “0” in this column indicate values that reflect accurate data collection as the intervals outlined in data set methods (i.e., 15 minute intervals); scores of “1” indicate either extreme values or periods of time where sampling was intermittent and consistent with a 15-minute sampling interval.  This column has been included to facilitate data handling and review for potential users.

Data notes for FL#1 sensor:

A. 2019 FL1:  plug in precipitation gauge, last normal recorded precip in mid-June, best to double check with VWC for incoming precipitation.

B. 2019 FL1:  large precipitation value on 8-23 related to draining of accumulated water in gauge

C. 2019 FL:  batteries start to fail at 12-31-2019 @6:30 AM.  Accurate scans continue, but intervals lengthen and are not always recorded every fifteen minutes

D. 2020 FL1: Battery power failure resulted in intermittent sampling at increasingly irregular intervals from 1-1-2020 until 4-8-2020

E. 2020 FL1: extreme reading during data collection on 7-21-2020

FL 2 date ranges

2018: 11 Jun 2018 - 31 Dec 2018

2019: 1 Jan 2019 - 31 Dec 2019*

2020: 1 Jan 2020 - 31 Dec 2020*

2021: 1 Jan 2021 - 26 Mar 2021

* -See notes below about data collection notes during these ranges.  “Data_collection_error_check” column has been added to excel output: scores of “0” in this column indicate values that reflect accurate data collection as the intervals outlined in data set methods (i.e., 15 minute intervals); scores of “1” indicate either extreme values or periods of time where sampling was intermittent and consistent with a 15-minute sampling interval.  This column has been included to facilitate data handling and review for potential users.

Data notes for FL#2 sensor:

A. 2019 FL2: extreme reading during data collection on 5-13-2019

B. 2020 FL2: extreme reading during data collection on 7-21-2020