Meteorology and Hydrology in Yosemite National Park: A Sensor Network ApplicationA ReviewJessica D Lundquist, Daniel R. Cayan, and Michael D. Dettinger

Prepared by:Sheila May E. JungcoME ECE – MO

Department of Electrical and Electronics EngineeringUniversity of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines

About the

Paper

Paper Title: Meteorology and Hydrology in Yosemite National Park: A Sensor Network Application

Date of Published: 2003

Published in: Book title: Information Processing in Sensor Networks Pages :518-528 Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Total Citations: 88 times

Reference: http://scholar.google.com.ph/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=JbFKaYUAAAAJ&cstart=20&citation_for_view=JbFKaYUAAAAJ:3fE2CSJIrl8C

About the Authors

Jessica D. Lundquist• Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering,

University of Washington• Research focuses on spatial patterns of snow and weather

in the mountains and how those patterns are likely to affect stream flow and water resources in a changing climate.

• 2002-2013 (39 publications)

Daniel R. Cayan•Climate Atmospheric Science and Physical Oceanography (CASPO)Scripps Institution of Oceanography and Water Resources Discipline, U.S. Geological Survey•Research interest: Seasonal – inter decadal climate variations, climate change, and climate impacts on water, wildfire, health, and agriculture in California and western North America• 1980 – 2013 (137 publications)

Michael D Dettinger• Research Hydrologist, US Geological Survey• Research focuses on hydrology, climate, and water

resources of the West, focusing on regional surface water and groundwater resources, hydroclimatic variability, and climate-change impacts. 

• 186 publications

Yosemite National Park

California National Park Map

Yosemite National Park Sierra NevadaOptional text here

www.images.google.com

OverviewOf the Paper

www.images.google.com

Yosemite National Park MapMerced River and Tuolumne Grove

www.images.google.com

The Problem(s)

Few measurements exist

FACTORS: Severe terrain Remote area Limited access Area of study is in Protected areas

SOLUTION:

A monitoring system that of low maintenance, low powered and unobtrusive

The paper is addressing the following problems.

OverviewNaturally most of the data gathered for studies are from areas accessible and mostly in the less elevated area.

Overview

Test Basins: Merced River and Tuolumne River in Yosemite national Park (Highway 120)

Elevation: 1200 to 3700 m

Why Merced River?

-because it has a long daily record (1916-present)

Yosemite National Park MapMerced River and Tuolumne River

www.images.google.com

Time line

Water level

Conductivities

Temperatures

Snow depth and Downwar

d Shortwav

e Radiation (CDWR)

Obtained permit,

Installation of 20

instrument for Water level and

temperature in MR and TR ,Deployment of 4

conductivity sensor

Stream chemistry measurements,

and 25 internally recording

temperature/relative humidity

sensors (highway 120)

10 water pressure sensor

Published

20032002200120001999

Water level Conductivities Temperatures

2002 Existing Stations

www.images.google.com

Results

Results

Results

Results

Results

Data Logger

Specifications Battery-powered

32MB MemoryDeveloped by Douglas Alden

ReviewCommentary and Recommendation

The Novelty

What is new?

The application of sensor network in meteorological and hydrological study of change in snowmelt runoff in Yosemite National Park. However we cannot say that there is novelty claimed by the authors.

Novelty applies to:

The device used so it can be suitable to the requirement the authors specifications. (Low maintenance, low-powered, unobtrusive, the circuit design. etc.)

What is new?

Similar Works

Cayan, Daniel R., Michael D. Dettinger, Susan A. Kammerdiener, Joseph M. Caprio, David H. Peterson, 2001: Changes in the Onset of Spring in the Western United States. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 82, 399–415.

Dettinger, Michael D., Daniel R. Cayan, 1995: Large-Scale Atmospheric Forcing of Recent Trends toward Early Snowmelt Runoff in California. J. Climate, 8, 606–623.

Stewart, I.T., D.R. Cayan, M.D. Dettinger, 2002. Changes in Snowmelt Runoff Timing in Western North America under a “Business as Usual” Climate Change Scenario. Submitted to Climate Change 10/31/02.

No research prior to this that uses sensor network for meteorological and hydrological application.

Update 2008

Update 2008Dan Cayan and Douglas Alden

Strength and Weaknesses

Plus The implementation of the prototype of sensor network

in this study opens to wide area of researches and better numerical models for the climate change .

CON The authors did not include details about the type of

sensor or any technicality about it. The title is broad. The study did not clearly state the method of how they

collected the data using the data logger. It is more focus on the meteorological and hydrological

side than of the sensor network. Some figures as published are not coherent with his

discussion. No detail about the network and how it was

implemented and all the technicality in engineering side.

Recommendations

It could have been better if the sensor network developer, Douglas Alden, co-authored with this article to have support the science.

Update

Thank you!Queries.