The FIFE Daily Rainfall Data Set contains daily precipitation values for 42 rain gauge stations within the Konza LTER portion of the FIFE site (i.e., Northwest quadrant). The data set is a composite of data collected by the LTER staff and the Princeton University group.
The LTER staff collected daily precipitation data from 12 of the 42 rain gauge stations within this area with the Princeton University group collecting 30 minute precipitation data from the remaining 30 stations. LTER data was collected from April 1982 through December 1989. Data collected by the LTER staff was year round for some stations and from April 1 to October 31 for others. The Princeton University group collected data from May 1987 to October 1987. The Princeton University 30 minute precipitation data was converted to daily precipitation data by the FIS staff. At any particular time, data from approximately 20 of the 30 Princeton University stations were recovered. High temperatures and humidity, plus software problems in the rainfall data loggers, resulted in these data losses. The collected data were of high quality and enough gauges were working at all times so that rain cells could be observed using these data.
Daily Rainfall Data (FIFE).
(Daily Rainfall Amounts in the Konza Research Area).
The FIFE Daily Rainfall Data Set contains daily precipitation values for 42 rain gauge stations within the Konza LTER portion of the FIFE site (i.e., Northwest quadrant). The data set is a composite of data collected by the LTER staff and the Princeton University group.
The FIFE Staff Science efforts to collect precipitation data focused on quantifying the spatial variation of rainfall across the Long-Term Ecological Research site (LTER) portion of the FIFE site. The data collected by Princeton University in the Kings Creek catchment and subcatchments were focused on determining the major elements of the water balance of these catchments using catchment, water-budget models with a temporal resolution of 20 days.
Total daily rainfall.
This data set contains daily precipitation values for 42 rain gauge stations within the Konza LTER portion of the FIFE site (i.e., Northwest quadrant).
The LTER staff collected daily precipitation data from 12 of the 42 rain gauge stations within this area. LTER data was collected from April 1982 through December 1989. The number of LTER stations collecting data over this period varied from 1 in April 1982 to 11 in December 1989. Data collected by the LTER staff was year round for some stations and from April 1 to October 31 for others.
The Princeton University group collected 30 minute precipitation data from 30 of the 42 rain gauge stations within this area from May 1987 to October 1987. The Princeton University 30 minute precipitation data was converted to daily precipitation data by the FIS staff. At any particular time, data from approximately 20 of the 30 Princeton University stations were recovered. High temperatures and humidity, plus software problems in the rainfall data loggers, resulted in these data losses. The collected data were of high quality and enough gauges were working at all times so that rain cells could be observed using these data.
RAIN_DAILY_DATA.
Staff Science.
These data were compiled from two different FIFE research activities:
All Data:
LTER data
The original rainfall daily amounts were collected by the staff of the civil engineering department at Princeton University, and Kansas State University. The assistance of John Briggs at the KSU LTER site in directing and preparing these data is particularly appreciated. The data from the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site were collected under the Konza Prairie LTER grant BSR 8514327 funded by the National Science Foundation.
The LTER used weighing-type gauges in which a weighing mechanism converted the weight of the rainfall caught by a circular, horizontal opening at the top of the gauge into the curvilinear movement of a recording pen which made an inked trace on a rectangular paper chart. The height of the pen marks on the chart were calibrated to rainfall amount.
The University of Princeton used tipping bucket rain gauges in which a 0.2 mm tip connected to a data logger (that recorded the date and time to within 1 min of the tip) was used to record rainfall. The one minute rainfall readings were aggregated into 30 minute intervals, by the Princeton University group. The FIS staff calculated daily rainfall by aggregating the 30 minute rainfall values into daily total rainfall values based on Central Daylight Saving Time.
The LTER rain gauge is describe in the sections below. For information on the instrumentation used by Princeton University see the Kings Creek Watershed 30 Minute Precipitation document. It describes the primary data set from which these daily data were computed.
Ground-based.
The LTER rain gauges were mounted on poles (that were centered on concrete pads) 3 feet above the ground.
The objectives were three fold, 1) to provide baseline long-term monitoring data for the Konza Research area, 2) to quantify the spatial variation of rainfall across the FIFE site and, 3) to determine the major elements of the water balance of the Kings Creek catchment using catchment, water-budget models with a temporal resolution of 20 days.
Daily rainfall depth at rain gauge locations.
The LTER rain gauges were permanently mounted on poles 3 feet above the ground. The poles were centered on concrete pads and the vegetation around the pads was kept low.
LTER Rain Gauge Manufacturer :
The instruments used by the LTER staff were purchased in a calibrated form and were re-calibrated each spring using weights of known mass.
See the Kings Creek Watershed 30 Minute Precipitation document for calibration information on the Princeton University data.
The LTER uses weights of known mass to perform the calibration.
LTER rain gauges: 0.001 grams i.e., 1 mm
LTER rain gauges are calibrated once per year.
LTER rain gauges are covered for the winter and taken out of service until spring (October 31 to April 1).
The LTER strip charts are removed from the rain gauges on a weekly basis and the highest daily rain value is manually read from these charts. These data are then manually entered into the data base on the LTER computer.
The University of Princeton rain data were acquired from Dr. Eric Wood and was derived from the thirty minute rainfall amounts for Kings Creek described in the Kings Creek Watershed 30 Minute Precipitation document.
Not available.
None.
The FIFE study area, with areal extent of 15 km by 15 km, is located south of the Tuttle Reservoir and Kansas River, about 10 km from Manhattan, Kansas, USA. The northwest corner of the area has UTM coordinates of 4,334,000 Northing and 705,000 Easting in UTM zone 14.
These original data were collected in the Konza LTER and the Kings Creek area of the FIFE study area. Rain gauges were positioned as follows:
SITEGRID STN_ID NORTHING EASTING LATITUDE LONGITUDE -------- ------ -------- ------- --------- --------- 1609-RGL 100 4330786 706889 39 06 13 -96 36 27 K4BF-RGL 211 K1BF-RGL 217 KUBF-RGL 223 3623-RGL 225 4326820 709650 39 04 02 -96 34 36 3018-RGL 226 4327950 708530 39 04 39 -96 35 22 2520-RGL 227 4329040 709000 39 05 14 -96 35 01 2529-RGL 228 4328970 710780 39 05 11 -96 33 47 3509-RGL 229 4327010 706830 39 04 10 -96 36 33 2515-RGL 230 4328950 708080 39 05 12 -96 35 39 1709-RGL 231 4330650 706780 39 06 09 -96 36 32 1809-RGL 235 4330388 706824 39 06 00 -96 36 30 1318-RGP 301 4331360 708524 39 06 30 -96 35 18 1718-RGP 302 4330561 708640 39 06 04 -96 35 14 1621-RGP 303 4330732 709244 39 06 09 -96 34 49 1626-RGP 304 4330841 710152 39 06 12 -96 34 11 1917-RGP 305 4330256 708498 39 05 54 -96 35 21 1824-RGP 306 4330366 709866 39 05 57 -96 34 24 1829-RGP 307 4330427 710750 39 05 58 -96 33 47 2316-RGP 308 4329376 708140 39 05 26 -96 35 36 2020-RGP 309 4329924 709063 39 05 43 -96 34 57 2123-RGP 310 4329811 709640 39 05 39 -96 34 34 2026-RGP 311 4329933 710158 39 05 42 -96 34 12 2132-RGP 312 4329723 711329 39 05 35 -96 33 23 2418-RGP 313 4329146 708577 39 05 18 -96 35 18 2321-RGP 314 4329309 709212 39 05 23 -96 34 52 2424-RGP 315 4329256 709754 39 05 21 -96 34 29 2326-RGP 316 4329457 710188 39 05 27 -96 34 11 2329-RGP 317 4329500 710876 39 05 28 -96 33 42 2433-RGP 318 4329113 711634 39 05 15 -96 33 11 2616-RGP 319 4328884 708195 39 05 10 -96 35 35 2521-RGP 320 4328921 709272 39 05 10 -96 34 50 2723-RGP 321 4328671 709549 39 05 02 -96 34 39 2525-RGP 322 4328909 709961 39 05 09 -96 34 21 2629-RGP 323 4328823 710821 39 05 06 -96 33 46 2814-RGP 324 4328488 707878 39 04 57 -96 35 48 2819-RGP 325 4328335 708701 39 04 52 -96 35 14 3121-RGP 326 4327854 709293 39 04 36 -96 34 50 2929-RGP 327 4328244 710726 39 04 47 -96 33 50 2930-RGP 328 4328128 711091 39 04 43 -96 33 35 3120-RGP 329 4327746 708927 39 04 33 -96 35 05 3121-RGP 330 4327805 709276 39 04 34 -96 34 51 2316-RGP 332 4329354 708156 39 05 25 -96 35 36 2822-RGP 334 4328327 709498 39 04 51 -96 34 41
Not available.
This is point data.
Not available.
Not available.
The LTER gauges collected data from April 27, 1982 through December 30, 1989.
The Princeton University data was collected from May 29, 1987 to October 26, 1987.
Not available.
Daily rainfall amounts based on local time.
The SQL definition for this table is found in the RAIN_DAY.TDF file located on FIFE CD-ROM Volume 1.
Parameter/Variable Name
Parameter/Variable Description Range Units Source
SITEGRID_ID This is a FIS grid location code. FIS Site grid codes (SSEE-III) give the south (SS) and east (EE) cell number in a 100 x 100 array of 200 m square cells. The last 3 characters (III) are an instrument identifier.
STATION_ID The station ID where the data was min = 100, FIS observed. max = 334
OBS_DATE The date when the data was observed, min = 27-APR-87, LTER in the format DD-mmm-YY. max = 30-DEC-89 PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
OBS_TYPE The observation type: LTER DAILY min = LTER DAILY, FIS or PRINCETON (computed from the max = PRINCETON Princeton University 30 minute rain data).
TOTAL_RAINFALL The total rainfall for the station min = 0, [mm] LTER and day. max = 116.5, PRINCETON missing = -9.9 UNIVERSITY
COMMENTS Any comments that pertain to the FIS data set as a whole (i.e., missing data, incorrect data.)
FIFE_DATA_CRTFCN_CODE The FIFE Certification Code for the * min = CPI, FIS data, in the following format: CPI max = CPI (Certified by PI), CPI-??? (CPI - questionable data).
LAST_REVISION_DATE in the format (DD-MMM-YY). max = 30-AUG-90
Footnote:
* Valid levels
The primary certification codes are:
EXM Example or Test data (not for release) PRE Preliminary (unchecked, use at your own risk) CPI PRE-NFP Preliminary - Not for publication, at the request of investigator. CPI-MRG PAMS data that is "merged" from two separate receiving stations to eliminate transmission errors. CPI-??? Investigator thinks data item may be questionable.
This is point data containing daily rainfall amounts based on local time. A general description of data granularity as it applies to the IMS appears in the EOSDIS Glossary.
The CD-ROM file format consists of numerical and character fields of varying length separated by commas. The character fields are enclosed with a single apostrophe. There are no spaces between the fields. Each file begin with five header records. Header records contain the following information: Record 1 Name of this file, its table name, number of records in this file, path and name of the document that describes the data in this file, and name of principal investigator for these data. Record 2 Path and filename of the previous data set, and path and filename of the next data set. (Path and filenames for files that contain another set of data taken at the same site on the same day.) Record 3 Path and filename of the previous site, and path and filename of the next site. (Path and filenames for files of the same data set taken on the same day for the previous and next sites, sequentially numbered by SITEGRID.) Record 4 Path and filename of the previous date, and path and filename of the next date. (Path and filenames for files of the same data set taken at the same site for the previous and next date.) Record 5 Column names for the data within the file, delimited by commas. Record 6 Data records begin. Each field represents one of the attributes listed in the chart in the Data Characteristics Section and described in detail in the TDF file. These fields are in the same order as in the chart.
The LTER data uses a simple conversion based on the weight to height of the pin markings on the drum strip chart to determine the amount of rainfall.
The LTER rainfall data is read directly from the strip chart in millimeters of rainfall (conversions are made at the time of extraction from the chart). Only maximum daily values are read from the chart. The Princeton University data was converted to daily total rainfall by the FIS staff. The daily totals were made using Central Daylight Saving time, not Greenwich Mean Time.
None.
None required for the LTER data. Princeton University 30 minute rainfall values were converted to daily total rainfall values by aggregating all 30 minute rainfall values recorded during a day. This was done for each of the Princeton University sites. The daily total rainfall calculations were done using Central Daylight Saving Time, not Greenwich Mean Time.
None.
Daily total rainfall values.
None.
Occasionally the LTER mechanical chart recorders would fail to chart an entire week, usually because the clock was not wound sufficiently. See the Kings Creek Watershed 30 Minute Precipitation document for sources of error for the Princeton University data.
See the Kings Creek Watershed 30 Minute Precipitation document for quality assessment of the Princeton University data.
The LTER data points are routinely compared with that recorded by the rain gauge located on the Kansas State University campus.
The data from the LTER staff is good quality. The staff has a high level of confidence in its accuracy. See the Kings Creek Watershed 30 Minute Precipitation document for details on the University of Princeton data.
The LTER data has a measurement error of + or - 1 mm, which is equivalent to the width of the pen/ink on the strip chart.
FIS staff applied a general QA procedure to the data to identify inconsistencies and problems for potential users. As a general procedure, the FIS QA consisted of examining the maximum, minimum, average, and standard deviation for each numerical field in the data table. Inconsistencies and problems found in the QA check are described is the Known Problems with the Data Section.
The data verification performed by the ORNL DAAC deals with the quality of the data format, media, and readability. The ORNL DAAC does not make an assessment of the quality of the data itself except during the course of performing other QA procedures as described below. The FIFE data were transferred to the ORNL DAAC via CD-ROM. These CD-ROMs are distributed by the ORNL DAAC unmodified as a set or in individual volumes, as requested. In addition, the DAAC has incorporated each of the 98 FIFE tabular datasets from the CD-ROMs into its online data holdings. Incorporation of these data involved the following steps: Each distinct type of data (i.e. "data set" on the CD-ROM), is accompanied by a documentation file (i.e., .doc file) and a data format/structure definition file (i.e., .tdf file). The data format files on the CD-ROM are Oracle SQL commands (e.g., "create table") that can be used to set up a relational database table structure. This file provides column/variable names, character/numeric type, length, and format, and labels/comments. These SQL commands were converted to SAS code and were used to create SAS data sets and subsequently to input data files directly from the CD-ROM into a SAS dataset. During this process, file names and directory paths were captured and metadata was extracted to the extent possible electronically. No files were found to be corrupted or unreadable during the conversion process. Additional Quality Assurance procedures were performed as follows: As errors are discovered in the online tabular data by investigators, users, or DAAC staff, corrections are made in cooperation with the principal investigators. These corrections are then distributed to users. CD-ROM data are corrected when re-mastering occurs for replenishment of CD-ROM stock.
Not available.
The LTER sites may having periods in which no data was recorded due to insufficient winding of clocks. See the Kings Creek Watershed 30 Minute Precipitation document for known problems with the Princeton University data.
The LTER data only contains values of total rainfall for days in which rainfall was recorded. The Princeton University data contains values of Total Rainfall on days in which no rainfall was recorded.
An analysis determined that 20 - 30 rain gauges should be able to estimate storm rainfall volume to within 10% with a reliability of 15%.
This data set can be used to quantify the spatial variation of rainfall across the FIFE site and to determine the major elements of the water balance of the Kings Creek catchment using catchment, water-budget models with a temporal resolution of 20 days.
The FIFE field campaigns were held in 1987 and 1989 and there are no plans for new data collection. Field work continues near the FIFE site at the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network Konza research site (i.e., LTER continues to monitor the site). The FIFE investigators are continuing to analyze and model the data from the field campaigns to produce new data products.
Software to access the data set is available on the all volumes of the FIFE CD-ROM set. For a detailed description of the available software see the Software Description Document.
ORNL DAAC User Services Telephone: (865) 241-3952 Email: ornldaac@ornl.gov
ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center Telephone: (865) 241-3952 Email: ornldaac@ornl.gov
Users may place requests by telephone, electronic mail, or FAX. Data is also available via the World Wide Web at http://daac.ornl.gov.
FIFE data are available from the ORNL DAAC. Please contact the ORNL DAAC User Services Office for the most current information about these data.
Daily Rainfall Amounts in the Konza Research Area are available on FIFE CD-ROM Volume 1. The CD-ROM filename is as follows: \DATA\SUR_MET\RAIN_DAY\Yyyyy\ydddgrid.RDY Where xxxx is the four digit code for the location within the FIFE site grid, yyyy is the four digits of the century and year (e.g., Y1987 = 1987), and ddd is the day of the year, (e.g., 061 = sixty-first day in the year). Note: capital letters indicate fixed values that appear on the CD-ROM exactly as shown here, lower case indicates characters (values) that change for each path and file. The format used for the filenames is: ydddgrid.sfx, where grid is the four-number code for the location within the FIFE site grid, y is the last digit of the year (e.g., 7 = 1987, and 9 = 1989), and ddd is the day of the year. The filename extension (.sfx), identifies the data set content for the file (see the Data Characteristics Section) and is equal to .RDY for this data set.
Anonymous. 1993. Methods Manual for Konza Prairie Research Natural Area. Konza LTER publication.
Wood, E.F., M. Sivapalan, and K. Beven. 1990. Similarity and scale in catchment storm response. Rev. in Geophy. 28(1). Wood, E.F. 1990. Water balance model for Kings Creek. Proc. of Symposium on FIFE. Am. Meteorol. Soc. February 7-9. Anaheim, CA. p163-167. Wood, E.F., and V. Lakshmi. 1992. A comparison of latent heat fluxes and their time-space variability from a water balance model and surface measurements in FIFE 1987. J. of Geophys. Res. (submitted).
Contact the EOS Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tennessee (see the Data Center Identification Section). Documentation about using the archive and/or online access to the data at the ORNL DAAC is not available at this revision.
A general glossary for the DAAC is located at Glossary.
A general list of acronyms for the DAAC is available at Acronyms.
April 28, 1994 (citation revised on October 16, 2002). This document has been reviewed by the FIFE Information Scientist to eliminate technical and editorial inaccuracies. Previous versions of this document have been reviewed by the Principal Investigator, the person who transmitted the data to FIS, a FIS staff member, or a FIFE scientist generally familiar with this data. It is believed that the document accurately describes the data as collected and as archived by the FIFE CD-ROM series.
January 14, 1997.
ORNL-FIFE_RAIN_DAY.
Huemmrich, K. F., and J. Briggs. 1994. Daily Rainfall Data (FIFE). Data set. Available on-line [http://www.daac.ornl.gov] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A. doi:10.3334/ORNLDAAC/29. Also published in D. E. Strebel, D. R. Landis, K. F. Huemmrich, and B. W. Meeson (eds.), Collected Data of the First ISLSCP Field Experiment, Vol. 1: Surface Observations and Non-Image Data Sets. CD-ROM. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A. (available from http://www.daac.ornl.gov).
Sample Data Record:
SITEGRID_ID STATION_ID OBS_DATE OBS_TYPE TOTAL_RAINFALL
----------- ---------- --------- --------------- --------------
K4BF-RGL 211 12-AUG-87 LTER DAILY 70
K1BF-RGL 217 12-AUG-87 LTER DAILY 101.5
KUBF-RGL 223 12-AUG-87 LTER DAILY 93.5
3623-RGL 225 12-AUG-87 LTER DAILY 102
3018-RGL 226 12-AUG-87 LTER DAILY 82
2520-RGL 227 12-AUG-87 LTER DAILY 81
2529-RGL 228 12-AUG-87 LTER DAILY 72
3509-RGL 229 12-AUG-87 LTER DAILY 79
2515-RGL 230 12-AUG-87 LTER DAILY 73.5
1709-RGL 231 12-AUG-87 LTER DAILY 81
1809-RGL 235 12-AUG-87 LTER DAILY 80.5
1318-RGP 301 12-AUG-87 PRINCETON -9.9
1718-RGP 302 12-AUG-87 PRINCETON -9.9
1621-RGP 303 12-AUG-87 PRINCETON 84.042
1626-RGP 304 12-AUG-87 PRINCETON 90.132
COMMENTS FIFE_DATA_CRTFCN_CODE LAST_REVISION_DATE
---------------------------- --------------------- ------------------
CPI 03-NOV-87
CPI 03-NOV-87
CPI 03-NOV-87
CPI 03-NOV-87
CPI 03-NOV-87
CPI 03-NOV-87
CPI 03-NOV-87
CPI 03-NOV-87
CPI 03-NOV-87
CPI 03-NOV-87
CPI 03-NOV-87
CPI 06-NOV-87
CPI 06-NOV-87
CPI 11-MAY-88
CPI 11-MAY-88
8. Data Organization:
Data Granularity:
Data Format:
9. Data Manipulations:
Formulae:
Derivation Techniques and Algorithms:
Data Processing Sequence:
Processing Steps:
Processing Changes:
Calculations:
Special Corrections/Adjustments:
Calculated Variables:
Graphs and Plots:
10. Errors:
Sources of Error:
Quality Assessment:
Data Validation by Source:
Confidence Level/Accuracy Judgment:
Measurement Error for Parameters:
Additional Quality Assessments:
Data Verification by Data Center:
11. Notes:
Limitations of the Data:
Known Problems with the Data:
Usage Guidance:
Any Other Relevant Information about the Study:
12. Application of the Data Set:
13. Future Modifications and Plans:
14. Software:
15. Data Access:
Contact Information:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
FAX: (865) 574-4665 Data Center Identification:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
USA
FAX: (865) 574-4665 Procedures for Obtaining Data:
Data Center Status/Plans:
16. Output Products and Availability:
17. References:
Satellite/Instrument/Data Processing Documentation.
Journal Articles and Study Reports.
Archive/DBMS Usage Documentation.
18. Glossary of Terms:
19. List of Acronyms:
CD-ROM Compact Disk, Read-Only Memory DAAC Distributed Active Archive Center EOS Earth Observing System EOSDIS EOS Data and Information System FIS FIFE Information System FIFE First ISLSCP Field Experiment IFC Intensive Field Campaign ISLSCP International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project LTER Long-Term Ecological Research ORNL Oak Ridge National Laboratory RGL Rain Gauge LTER RGP Rain Gauge Princeton SQL Structured Query Language TDF Table Definition File URL Uniform Resource Locator UTM Universal Transverse Mercator 20. Document Information:
Document Review Date:
Document ID:
Citation:
Cite this data set as follows: Document Curator:
Document URL:
http://daac.ornl.gov