Continuous Water Level, Salinity, and Temperature Data from Monitoring Wells in Herring River Wetlands, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2020-2021

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text] - [XML]

Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Continuous Water Level, Salinity, and Temperature Data from Monitoring Wells in Herring River Wetlands, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2020-2021
Abstract:
Environmental parameters affecting plant productivity and microbial respiration, such as water level, salinity, and groundwater temperature included in these datasets, are key components of wetland carbon cycling, carbon storage, and capacity to maintain elevation. Data were collected to (1) provide background data to evaluate potential differences in water level and carbon flux between wetland sites with differing elevation and tidal inundation and (2) facilitate applications of Blue Carbon projects in coastal wetlands. Associated child pages include continuous water level, salinity, and temperature from shallow wells installed in coastal wetland sites on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. These datasets are grouped by the project they support or by study site. Project study sites include salt marshes with natural tidal flow, salt marshes that were previously tidally restricted and have been restored, impounded coastal wetlands with restricted tidal flow inclusive of various vegetation types, and Phragmites dominated areas fringing natural salt marshes.
Supplemental_Information:
For more information, see the following field activities: https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2020-019-FA https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2021-026-FA Related field activities for previously published data (O’Keefe Suttles and others, 2020) are as follows: https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2015-042-FA https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2015-044-FA https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2015-063-FA https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2016-016-FA https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2017-039-FA https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2018-055-FA https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2019-018-FA
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Jennifer A. O'Keefe Suttles, Eagle, Meagan J., Sanders-DeMott, Rebecca, Nick, Sydney K., Brooks, Thomas W., Mann, Adrian G., and Kroeger, Kevin D., 20220526, Continuous Water Level, Salinity, and Temperature Data from Monitoring Wells in Herring River Wetlands, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2020-2021: data release DOI:10.5066/P9T1KOTW, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Jennifer A. O'Keefe Suttles, Eagle, Meagan J., Sanders-DeMott, Rebecca, Nick, Sydney K., Brooks, Thomas W., Mann, Adrian G., and Kroeger, Kevin D., 2022, Continuous Water Level, Salinity, and Temperature Data from Coastal Wetland Monitoring Wells, Cape Cod, Massachusetts: data release DOI:10.5066/P9T1KOTW, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Suggested citation: O'Keefe Suttles, J.A., Eagle, M.J., Sanders-DeMott, R., Nick, S.K., Brooks, T.W., Mann, A.G., and Kroeger, K.D., 2022, Continuous water level, salinity, and temperature data from coastal wetland monitoring wells, Cape Cod, Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9T1KOTW
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.0567088
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.0509867
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.9603891
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.9374193
  3. What does it look like?
    https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/624b36ced34e21f827635c70?name=HerringRiver_Typha.jpg (JPEG)
    Photograph of a tidally restricted Typha wetland in the Herring River Estuary, Cape Cod, MA (Photo Credit: Daniel Roberts).
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 2020
    Ending_Date: 2021
    Currentness_Reference:
    Ground Condition. Refer to the entity HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020_2021.csv for sensor deployment periods in each well. Also check within the datafile for exact time period of data collection for each sensor. All sensors were not collecting data at all locations for the entire study period; refer to the completeness section of this metadata record for explanations of gaps in the continuous record.
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Comma Separated Text files (*.csv).
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      Indirect_Spatial_Reference: Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) placenames
      This is a Point data set.
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 1.0E-5. Longitudes are given to the nearest 1.0E-5. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222101.
      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Altitude_System_Definition:
      Altitude_Datum_Name: North American Vertical Datum of 1988
      Altitude_Resolution: 0.01
      Altitude_Distance_Units: meters
      Altitude_Encoding_Method: Attribute values
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    HR_Wells_2020_2021.csv
    Continuous monitoring of well water level, temperature, and salinity in tidally restricted wetlands within the Herring River Estuary. Raw pressure data, used to calculate water level, is reported as atmospherically corrected pressure as exported from manufacturers' software. The CSV file also includes latitude and longitude of sensor placement. The dataset includes 314,479 records. (Source: Producer-defined)
    site_name
    A text identifier for the general location of the study site. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    Herring RiverA data point collected from a tidally restricted wetland within the Herring River Estuary.
    status
    Hydrological management status of the sampling location (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    ImpoundedIndicates that at this sampling location water is retained but tidal exchange is limited or excluded by infrastructure such as dikes, roads, or culverts.
    veg_type
    Dominant vegetation at sampling location. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    Dry ForestData point collected from the Herring River Estuary that is now "dry" or drained and forested (dominated by upland tree species).
    Typha WetlandData point collected from the Herring River Estuary that is now dominated by Typha (cattail).
    Wet ShrubData point collected from the Herring River Estuary that is now dominated by shrubs tolerant of periodic standing water.
    Phragmites WetlandData point collected from the Herring River Estuary that is now dominated by Phragmites australis.
    sampling_location_name
    Sampling location name indicating both the hydrological management and salinity status relative to the geographical site as referenced in the accompanying publication; or a text abbreviation for the study site used in field logs. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    HRPHRP is an abbreviation for the "Herring River Phragmites" study site, located off Way 672 in Wellfleet, MA.
    HRHKHRHK is an abbreviation for the "Herring River Hopkins Road" study site, located in the wet shrub area near the intersection of Hopkins Road and High Toss Road in Wellfleet, MA.
    HRHTHRHT is an abbreviation for the "Herring River High Toss Road" study site, located in the dry forest area off High Toss Road in Wellfleet, MA.
    HROCHROC is an abbreviation for the "Herring River Old County Road" study site, located in the Typha wetland off Old County Road in Wellfleet, MA.
    Impounded-HighSampling location that experiences tidal exchange that is limited or excluded and is the high salinity plot of the site pair as referenced in the accompanying publication. This site is also located in the Phragmites wetland area off Way 672 in Wellfleet, MA.
    Impounded-LowSampling location that experiences tidal exchange that is limited or excluded and is the high salinity plot of the site pair as referenced in the accompanying publication. This site is also located in the Phragmites wetland area off Way 672 in Wellfleet, MA.
    latitude
    Latitude decimal degrees north, NAD83 (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:41.9374201
    Maximum:41.9603891
    Units:decimal degrees
    longitude
    Longitude decimal degrees west, NAD83. The negative value indicates a location in the western hemisphere. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-70.0567088
    Maximum:-70.0509867
    Units:decimal degrees
    date_time
    A text string identifier for the date and time the data point was logged in the format mm-dd-yyyy hh:mm:ss (UTC). (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:01/08/2020 19:15:00
    Maximum:11/17/2021 17:45:00
    Units:mm-dd-yyyy hh:mm:ss (UTC)
    temp_well
    A numeric data value of logged well water temperature. Manufacturer's specifications for temperature accuracy and resolution of In-Situ AquaTroll 200 water level loggers are +/- 0.1 degrees Celsius and 0.01 degrees Celsius or better, respectively. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:2.289
    Maximum:19.667
    Units:degrees Celsius
    The value "NaN" is defined as a textual representation of an erroneous measurement that was excluded from the dataset. After removing the logger from the well for downloading and maintenance, some parameters took time to re-equilibrate to ambient conditions when redeployed. The entity, "HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020_2021.csv", may be referenced for specific sensor deployment dates; the process description lists specific dates the logger was removed from the well for downloading. The attribute "temp_well" has 82 records with the "NaN" domain.
    sal_well
    A numeric data value of logged well water salinity. Salinity is converted in the manufacturer's software from measured conductivity which has a manufacturer's specification for accuracy of +/- 0.5 percent of the reading + 1 microsiemens per centimeter when reading less than 80,000 microsiemens per centimeter and a resolution of 0.1 microsiemens per centimeter. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.203
    Maximum:11.969
    Units:practical salinity units (PSU)
    The value "NaN" is defined as a textual representation of a measurement that was excluded from the dataset. After removing the logger from the well for downloading and maintenance, some parameters took time to requilibrate to ambient conditions when redeployed. The entity, "HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020_2021.csv", may be referenced for specific sensor deployment dates; the process description lists specific dates the logger was removed from the well for downloading. The attribute "sal_well" has 40,283 records with the "NaN" domain.
    press_atm
    A numeric data value of atmospheric pressure logged by the barometer. The manufacturer's accuracy specification for this sensor is +/- 0.05 percent full-scale from -5 to 50 degrees Celsius, long-term stability is specified as less than 0.1 percent full-scale; the manufacturer's specification for resolution is 0.005 percent full-scale or better. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:14.167
    Maximum:15.139
    Units:pounds per square inch (PSI)
    press_corr
    A numeric data value of corrected pressure. For non-vented pressure loggers corrected pressure is calculated (in the manufacturers' software) as the difference between the absolute pressure (press_abs) logged by the water level sensor and the atmospheric pressure (press_atm) logged by the barometer. Water level was measured using an In-Situ Aqua TROLL 200-30psia (30 psi maximum pressure; "a" indicates an absolute pressure sensor that is not vented to the atmosphere). The manufacturer's accuracy specification for this sensor is +/- 0.05 percent full-scale from -5 to 50 degrees Celsius, long-term stability is less than 0.1 percent full-scale; the manufacturer's specification for resolution is 0.005 percent full-scale or better. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.158
    Maximum:1.677
    Units:pounds per square inch (PSI)
    The value "NaN" is defined as a textual representation of a measurement that was excluded from the dataset. Logged datapoints when the logger was removed from the well for maintenance and downloading were excluded from the dataset. The entity, "HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020_2021.csv", may be referenced for specific sensor deployment dates. The attribute "press_corr" has 70 records with the "NaN" domain.
    dbs
    A numeric data value of water depth below land surface ("dbs") calculated from field measured sensor deployment depth and pressure logged by the water level sensor. Data reported were collected from wells installed in wetlands or drained wetlands; the land surface upon which the well was installed may have been periodically inundated with surface water. "Positive" dbs were periods of land surface inundation by surface water (water over the land surface); "negative" dbs were periods when the land surface was not inundated with surface water and water level was below the land surface. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.960
    Maximum:0.370
    Units:meters
    The value "NaN" is defined as a textual representation of a measurement that was excluded from the dataset; data may have been excluded if water level dropped below the sensor deployment depth or when the sensor was removed from the well for maintenance. The entity, "HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020_2021.csv", may be referenced for specific sensor start dates. The attribute "dbs" has 70 records with the "NaN" domain.
    WL_NAVD88
    A numeric data value of water elevation calculated from field measured land surface elevation, sensor deployment depth, and pressure logged by the water level sensor. Calculations for this attribute are described in the process steps. Positive values are above the datum and negative values below. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.344
    Maximum:0.629
    Units:meters
    The value "NaN" is defined as a textual representation of an erroneous measurement that was excluded from the dataset; data may have been excluded if water levels dropped below the sensor deployment depth or when the sensor was removed from the well for maintenance. The entity, "HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020_2021.csv", may be referenced for specific sensor start dates. The attribute "WL_NAVD88" has 70 records with the "NaN" domain.
    HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020_2021.csv
    Summary of land surface elevation, deployment length, and well height measurements for water level loggers deployed at Herring River sites between January 2020 and 2021 (September, Old County Typha site; November, all other sites) used in final calculation of water elevation and water depth below land surface. There are 9 records in the table. (Source: Producer-defined)
    site_name
    A text identifier for the general location of the study site. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    Herring RiverData point collected from a tidally restricted wetland within the Herring River Estuary.
    veg_type
    A text identifier indicating the vegetation type that now dominates the tidally restricted study site. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    Dry ForestData point collected from the Herring River Estuary that is now "dry" or drained and forested (dominated by upland tree species).
    Typha WetlandData point collected from the Herring River Estuary that is now dominated by Typha (cattail).
    Wet ShrubData point collected from the Herring River Estuary that is now dominated by shrubs tolerant of periodic standing water.
    Phragmites WetlandData point collected from the Herring River Estuary that is now dominated by Phragmites australis.
    well_type
    A text identifier indicating the type of well installation used to deploy a water level logger. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    deepA well that is qualified as "deep" was installed with the bottom of the screened section greater than 50 cm below the land surface.
    shallowA well that is qualified as "shallow" was installed with the bottom of the screened section less than 50 cm below the land surface.
    sampling_location_name
    Sampling location name indicating both the hydrological management and salinity status relative to the geographical site as referenced in the accompanying publication; or a text abbreviation for the study site used in field logs. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    HRPHRP is an abbreviation for the "Herring River Phragmites" study site, located off Way 672 in Wellfleet, MA.
    HRHKHRHK is an abbreviation for the "Herring River Hopkins Road" study site, located in the wet shrub area near the intersection of Hopkins Road and High Toss Road in Wellfleet, MA.
    HRHTHRHT is an abbreviation for the "Herring River High Toss Road" study site, located in the dry forest area off High Toss Road in Wellfleet, MA.
    HROCHROC is an abbreviation for the "Herring River Old County Road" study site, located in the Typha wetland off Old County Road in Wellfleet, MA.
    Impounded-HighSampling location that experiences tidal exchange that is limited or excluded and is the high salinity plot of the site pair as referenced in the accompanying publication. This site is also located in the Phragmites wetland area off Way 672 in Wellfleet, MA.
    Impounded-LowSampling location that experiences tidal exchange that is limited or excluded and is the high salinity plot of the site pair as referenced in the accompanying publication. This site is also located in the Phragmites area off Way 672 in Wellfleet, MA.
    start_date
    A text string identifier for the date the deployment started (in the format mm/dd/yyyy). (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:01/08/2020
    Maximum:07/16/2020
    Units:date format mm/dd/yyyy
    end_date
    A text string identifier for the date the deployment ended (in the format mm/dd/yyyy). (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:4/29/2020
    Maximum:11/17/2021
    Units:date format mm/dd/yyyy
    latitude
    Latitude decimal degrees north, NAD83. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:41.9374201
    Maximum:41.9603891
    Units:decimal degrees
    longitude
    Longitude decimal degrees west, NAD83. The negative value indicates a location in the western hemisphere. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-70.0567088
    Maximum:-70.0509867
    Units:decimal degrees
    land_surface_elevation
    A manual measurement of the land surface elevation (NAVD88) at a particular location (coordinates also measured and reported, measurement made using the RTK GPS). (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.0763
    Maximum:0.8025
    Units:meters
    height_above_land_surface
    A manual measurement (using a measuring stick) of the height above land surface of the well that was used for water level logger deployment. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.285
    Maximum:1.240
    Units:meters
    deployment_length
    A manual measurement in meters (using a measuring stick) of the length of the well logger deployment cable (cable plus sensor). (Source: Manufacturer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.395
    Maximum:2.185
    Units:meters
    sensor_depth_below_land_surface
    Calculated deployment depth of the water level logger below the land surface (equal to the deployment_length minus the height_above_land_surface). (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.135
    Maximum:-0.230
    Units:meters
    sensor_WL
    A text identifier for the manufacturer make and model information of the water level sensor used to collect the given data point. (Source: Manufacturer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    In-Situ Aqua TROLL 200-30 psiaData point collected using a water level logger manufactured by In-Situ, model type Aqua TROLL 200 (30 psi maximum pressure; "a" indicates an absolute pressure sensor that is not vented to the atmosphere).
    WL_sn
    A numeric identifier of the serial number of the water level logger; it is created by the manufacturer to uniquely tag each water level sensor. (Source: Manufacturer-defined) The serial number of each water level logger is a numeric identifier, created by the manufacturer, to uniquely tag each piece of equipment.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Jennifer A. O'Keefe Suttles
    • Meagan J. Eagle
    • Rebecca Sanders-DeMott
    • Sydney K. Nick
    • Thomas W. Brooks
    • Adrian G. Mann
    • Kevin D. Kroeger
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Collaborations with Tim P. Smith, NPS Cape Cod National Seashore, helped to inform study site selection and experimental design. Sydney Nick (USGS Interdisciplinary Geographer/Geologist), Sandra Brosnahan (USGS Physical Scientist), Barry Irwin (USGS Geophysicist), Allyson Boggess (USGS Geologist) and Jonathan Borden (USGS Electronics Technician) helped with RTK GPS data collection at these study sites. USGS interns Sophie Kuhl and Simone Gibson assisted with sensor downloads in 2021.
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Jennifer A. O'Keefe Suttles
    Northeast Region: WOODS HOLE COASTAL and MARINE SCIENCE CENTER
    Chemist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    United States

    508-548-8700 x2385 (voice)
    jokeefesuttles@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

The Herring River Estuary (Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts) has been tidally restricted for over a century by a dike constructed near the mouth of the river. Behind the dike, the tidal restriction has caused the conversion of salt marsh wetlands to various other ecosystems including impounded freshwater marshes, flooded shrub land, drained forested upland, and wetlands dominated by Phragmites australis. This estuary is now managed by the National Park Service, which has plans to replace the dike and restore tidal flow to the estuary. To assist National Park Service land managers with restoration planning, study collaborators have been investigating differences in soil properties, carbon accumulation, and greenhouse gas fluxes across differing ecosystems within the Herring River Estuary. The U.S. Geological Survey has collected continuous monitoring data (including water level, water temperature, and salinity in shallow wells provided in this data release) since 2015 to support data interpretation from these studies; data in this report begin in 2020 (previous data releases are linked in the metadata).

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2020 (process 1 of 4)
    Well Installation: PVC wells were installed by USGS at five of the six sites; the Dry Forest well was previously installed by collaborators at the National Park Service (NPS). USGS wells consisted of two pre-manufactured sections of 1 inch (2.54 cm) diameter well casing that were threaded together: a length of slotted screened casing and a solid well casing that stuck above the sediment surface. The slot size was 0.010 inch (~ 0.3 mm). The length of slotted section was 2.5 feet (~0.762 meters) for the deeper HROC and HRHK wells and about 0.5 feet or between 20 and 30 centimeters for the wells installed at HRP Impounded in 2020. USGS wells were installed by pushing the well section into the sediment by hand or lightly tapping the top of the well with a mallet. The tip of the slotted screened well section was pushed about 1 meter below the land surface for deep wells and about 0.3 meters below land surface for shallow wells; the threaded portion (connecting the slotted length with the solid length) was below the sediment surface. Enough well casing remained above the sediment surface to ensure the groundwater well was not over-topped with surface water (0.3 meter - 1 meter). A vent hole was drilled near the top of the solid well casing. An eye-bolt was drilled into the inward facing edge of the threaded well cap; water level loggers were hung by aircraft cable threaded through the eye-bolt and through the logger cap and secured on both ends using crimped stainless-steel oval sleeves. Exact well heights and sensor deployment lengths are summarized in a separate entity and attribute section (HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_20_2021.csv).
    The NPS Dry Forest well was a 1.5 inch diameter PVC well (0.010 inch slotted screen) loosely capped with a PVC cap socket. The water level logger was hung using the same aircraft cable used in the other wells; however it was not attached to the cap, it hung from a bolt between holes drilled approximately 4 cm from the top of the well casing.
    In June 2020 we removed previously installed wells at the Phragmites site and redeployed the loggers in wells at sites newly established for greenhouse gas flux measurements (Sanders-DeMott and others 2022; both the cross referenced journal article and data release in this metadata record). The process date represents the latest process date.
    Date: 2021 (process 2 of 4)
    Well Logger Deployments: All well loggers for this data release were In-Situ, model type Aqua TROLL 200 (30 psi maximum pressure; "a" indicates an absolute pressure sensor that is not vented to the atmosphere). The manufacturer's accuracy specification for this sensor is +/- 0.05 percent full-scale from -5 to 50 degrees Celsius, long-term stability is less than 0.1 percent full-scale; the manufacturer's specification for resolution is 0.005 percent full-scale or better. For specific logger serial numbers used at each site, refer to the file HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020_2021.csv included with this data release.
    Well data loggers were initially deployed at two sites in September 2015; in subsequent years, additional sites, wells, and sensors were added to the study and this data was released in O'Keefe Suttles and others 2020 (previously cross referenced in this metadata record). The present data release begins with data logged between 1/8/2020 and November 2021. Data loggers were periodically downloaded in the field using instrument manufacturers' software (WinSitu); data were inspected for general accuracy. Further data processing and calculation steps are described in the next process steps. Dates of site visits are listed as follows, Typha: 1/8/2020, 5/4/2020, 5/15/2020, 9/23/2020, 12/07/2020, 12/11/2020, 4/15/2021, 5/07/2021, 9/17,2021. Dry Forest: 1/8/2020, 7/16/2020, 9/23/2020, 12/07/2020, 12/11/2020, 4/15/2021, 5/07/2021, 11/02/2021. Wet Shrub: 1/8/2020, 7/16/2020, 9/23/2020, 12/07/2020, 12/11/2020, 4/15/2021, 5/07/2021, 11/02/2021. Phragmites Shallow: 1/8/2020, 4/29/2020, 5/21/2020, 6/18/2020. Phragmites_Restricted_LowSal: 6/18/2020, 7/16/2020, 7/28/2020, 8/12/2020, 8/25/2020, 9/23/2020, 10/19/2020, 11/20/2020, 12/07/2020, 12/11/2020, 4/14/2021, 5/07/2021, 7/13/2021, 8/12/2021, 9/17/2021, 11/17/2021. Phragmities_Restricted_HighSal: 6/18/2020, 7/16/2020, 7/28/2020, 8/12/2020, 8/25/2020, 9/23/2020, 10/19/2020, 11/20/2020, 12/07/2020, 12/11/2020, 4/14/2021, 5/07/2021, 7/13/2021, 8/12/2021, 9/17/2021, 11/17/2021.
    The process date represents the most recent end date for this process step.
    Date: 2022 (process 3 of 4)
    A barometer (In-Situ BaroTroll 500; serial number 427140) was deployed in air (~1.5 meters from soil surface) near to the HRP well sites for the duration of the time-series measurements. The manufacturer's accuracy specification for this sensor is +/- 0.05 percent full-scale from -5 to 50 degrees Celsius, long-term stability is specified as less than 0.1 percent full-scale; the manufacturer's specification for resolution is 0.005 percent full-scale or better.
    Logged atmospheric pressure from this barometer was used to correct logged pressure data from the non-vented water level sensors deployed in wells around the Herring River study sites using manufacturer software (WinSitu BaroMerge). Corrected pressure was converted to sensor depth assuming a brackish water density for all sites (WinSitu: 1.012 grams per cubic centimeter). Barometric pressure and density corrections were processed throughout the deployment period and checked while finalizing the data report. Corrected pressure and barometric pressure are reported in this data release.
    Data from all continuous monitoring sensors were exported from manufacturers' software as a .csv file and compiled using MATLAB (R2020b). Water elevation calculations were performed in MATLAB as described in the following process steps. Data resulting from erroneous measurements (malfunctioning sensors or insufficient water within a well) were excluded from the final dataset. Data were processed throughout the deployment period and checked while finalizing the data report; the process date represents the latest date of data processing.
    Date: 2022 (process 4 of 4)
    Field measured deployment heights for specific time periods are summarized in a comma separated text file (HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020_2021.csv) included with this data release. These deployment heights were used to convert sensor depth (calculated from pressure in the manufacturer's software; described in previous process step) to water depth below land surface (dbs) and water elevation with respect to NAVD88 (WL_NAVD88). Calculations were processed throughout the deployment period in MATLAB (R2020b). Positive dbs indicates water above the land surface; negative dbs indicates water below the land surface. The following parameters are used for these two calculations (units for all measurements are in meters): a: depth of sensor as calculated in manufacturer's software (see previous process step for description of measured pressure data and assumptions of density constants; positive value when sensor pressure is greater than barometric pressure) b: land surface elevation (in the NAVD88 datum) at deployment location measured by RTK (land_surface_elevation; positive above (elevation) and negative below the datum) c: deployment well height above land surface measured periodically in the field using a meter stick (height_above_land_surface; always positive) d: total length of the deployment cable and water level sensor measured in the field using a meter stick (deployment_length; always positive)
    Well water elevation is calculated as: WL_NAVD88 = a+b+c-d
    Well water depth below land surface is calculated as: dbs = a+c-d
    Calculations were processed throughout the deployment period; the process date represents the latest date of data processing.
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Sanders-DeMott, Rebecca, Eagle, Meagan, Kroeger, Kevin, Wang, Faming, Brooks, T. Wallace, O'Keefe Suttles, Jennifer A., Nick, Sydney, Mann, Adrian, and Tang, Jianwu, 2022, Carbon dioxide and methane fluxes with supporting environmental data from coastal wetlands across Cape Cod, Massachusetts: data release DOI:10.5066/P9RRL3T0, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: Supporting data release.
    O'Keefe Suttles, Jennifer A., Gonneea, Meagan E., Brosnahan, Sandra M., Mann, Adrian G., Brooks, Thomas W., Kroeger, Kevin D., Medeiros, Kelly, Smith, Timothy P., Wang, Faming, and Tang, Jim, 20200625, Continuous Monitoring Data from Herring River Wetlands, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2015 to January 2020: data release DOI:10.5066/P9R4SRTR, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    This data release is the first part of the dataset that relates to the current data release. Note that some well locations may have changed (moved within a site, added, or removed from the study); refer to latitude and longitude of well locations within each dataset for further information.

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Well sensors were bench tested for accuracy in the laboratory at the beginning and end of the field season as described below.
    Data from temperature sensors logging in air were compared to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Traceable Digital Thermometer (Fisher brand) co-deployed on the bench. Logged temperature readings that were within manufacturer's accuracy specification of temperature measured by the NIST Traceable Thermometer were deemed acceptable.
    Salinity sensors were checked with a purchased calibration standard (Ricca 50.000 millisiemens per centimeter, catalog number 2248-1) and re-calibrated as needed. Salinity sensors were also field checked periodically and re-calibrated as needed; field service dates are listed in the process steps.
    Water level sensors were tested in the laboratory for accuracy by comparing logged pressure readings in air to the barometers used for barometric compensation; logged pressure readings that were within manufacturer's accuracy specification of the barometer's logged pressure in air were deemed acceptable. The make and model of the water level logger and barometer used for each water level measurement are included as attributes in the file HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020_2021.csv; the manufacturer's accuracy and resolution specifications for each continuous monitoring sensor are stated in the process steps regarding well logger deployment and atmospheric corrections or in the attribute definitions.
    Data were exported as logged by each sensor. Calculated attributes of water level ("dbs" and "WL_NAVD88) from all sensor types are reported to a resolution of 0.001 meters to allow for relative point-to-point comparisons. However, accuracy of these calculated parameters is dependent upon sensor accuracy, manual measurements of deployment depths, and RTK GPS elevation measurements. For example, the unconsolidated nature of the sediment surface at many sites (thick thatch, water above the land surface resulting in wet, fluid, dynamic sediment surface). Overall, the approximate accuracy of this measurement technique is 1-5 centimeters.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Horizontal positions were determined with a SpectraPrecision (SP80) Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS with Positional Dilution of Precision (PDOP) and Horizontal Dilution of Precision (HDOP) values less than or equal to 1.300 and 0.700 respectively. Based on the range in replicate measurements, the horizontal accuracy is estimated to be +/- 30 centimeters. No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    Water level loggers were deployed in wells at 6 different locations; sensor depth data from these instruments were converted to water elevation relative to NAVD88 using land surface elevations measured by SpectraPrecision (SP80) Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS. Details on this calculation are described in the process steps. Vertical Dilution of Precision (VDOP) for RTK GPS measurements were less than 1.000; average vertical accuracy of this method is +/- 5 centimeters. No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Gaps in the continuous data record for a given parameter may have been the result of one of several sources: sensor not deployed during that time period, removal of an instrument for maintenance, corrupt data file due to malfunctioning instrument, or wells with insufficient water level to produce reliable data. Exclusions of data from the continuous record are coded as the unrepresentable domain "NaN" (used in MATLAB, meaning "not a number"). The NaN count for each attribute are included in the domain definition for NaN. In some cases, the sensor error may have affected only one logged parameter. Short periods of NaN usually coincide with field maintenance and download; these dates are listed in the process steps below. Gaps in the continuous record that are not represented by NaN indicate the sensor was not deployed or a large part of a deployment was excluded from the dataset. Specific notes follow. The logger in the Herring River, High Toss, Dry Forest well was retrieved 11/02/2021 and found to have had an error; the last recorded data point for this well in this data release is 09/24/2021. The last reported data point in this data release for the Old County Typha site is dated 09/17/2021 as the logger was removed from its well to be redeployed in a new well that was installed at this site on that date (data from the new well was not available at the time of this data release). The Hopkins Wet Shrub well logger had a low battery when downloaded 11/02/2021; this is the last date for this site in this data release.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Each logged parameter set was queried for maximum and minimum values to be sure logged data fell within expected ranges for the environmental conditions. Data were plotted to look for any obvious instrument errors (data jumps or gaps or noisy data). Erroneous data in the logged data files may be the result of one of several sources: removal of an instrument for maintenance, corrupt data file due to malfunctioning instrument, or wells with insufficient water level to produce reliable data. These data were excluded from the final data report.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints none
Use_Constraints none
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
    Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
    Denver, CO
    United States of America

    1-888-275-8747 (voice)
    sciencebase@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? This dataset contains 2 individual comma separated text files: HR_Wells_2020_2021.csv; HR_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020_2021.csv. The dataset also contains a browse graphic (HerringRiver_Typha.jpg) and the FGDC CSDGM metadata in XML format (HR_wells_meta_2020_2021.xml).
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Neither the U.S. Government, the Department of the Interior, nor the USGS, nor any of their employees, contractors, or subcontractors, make any warranty, express or implied, nor assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, nor represent that its use would not infringe on privately owned rights. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data or related materials. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    The zip file resulting from the first network resource link contains data in CSV format. The user must have software capable of uncompressing the zip file and reading the data formats.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 26-May-2022
Metadata author:
Jennifer A. O'Keefe Suttles
Northeast Region: WOODS HOLE COASTAL AND MARINE SCIENCE CENTER
Chemist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA
United States

508-548-8700 x2385 (voice)
whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov
Contact_Instructions:
The metadata contact email address is a generic address in the event the person is not longer with USGS.
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/SB_data_release/DR_P9T1KOTW/HR_wells_meta_2020_2021.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.51 on Fri May 27 15:37:06 2022