Instrumentation

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Air Temperature Gauges

The Marcell has three Belfort model 594-1 hygrothermographs. Each site also has a US Weather Bureau style max min thermometer mounted on a Townsend Support. The instruments are housed in Standard National Weather Service Shelters.
[See air temp metadata for more details.]

Precipitation Gauges

Each watershed has at least two and some have as many as four precipitation gauges. All sites have 8" Standard USWB Precipitation Gauges. Three sites also have Belfort Universal Recording Precipitation Gauges. All gauges are supported on 2' diameter circular wooden platforms and the gauge tops are 5' above the ground. Gauges are painted silver to reduce evaporation. Four of the more open sites have USWB Alter-Type Windshields installed.
[See precipitation metadata for more details.]

Groundwater Deepwells

Ground water tables are currently being monitored at 12 well sites on the experimental forest. Well 305 is a 4" well that has a Stevens Type F chart recorder with a float and pulley system for recording water levels. Well 305 has a continuous daily recording. The recorder reading is checked by using a steel tape measure to determine depth to water from the known platform elevation.
[See daily water table metadata for more details.]

All other wells are 1¼" pipes with a sand point on the end. A steel tape is used to obtain depth to water from the top of the pipe. These wells are visited monthly.
[See monthly water table metadata for more details.]

Bogwells

Water table elevations are measured in seven bogwells on the experimental forest wetlands. All of the bogwell sites use Belfort model FW-1 strip chart recorders with a float and pulley system to monitor water levels.
[See daily water table metadata for more details.]

Soil Water Tubes

Soil water is currently being monitored at 10 soil water tube sites on the experimental forest. Each site has a 1½" ID aluminum access tube installed in the soil. Tube bottoms are sealed with rubber stoppers and the tops are covered by lids, so water will not enter. Since 1990, a Troxler Series 4300 Depth Moisture Gauge has been used for the readings.
[See soil bulk density and soil water content metadata for more details.]

Weirs

Stream runoff from the calibrated watersheds is currently measured at five weirs on the experimental forest. Each site has a 120° V-Notch Weir Blade, constructed of ¼" steel. The blades are attached to concrete cutoff walls. The walls are 10" thick and 7' high. Most of the wall is buried in the soil and sits on an 18"x36" footing.
[See stream runoff metadata for more details.]