arctic discharge observations the arctic rims and the r-arctic net datasets Åsa rennermalm...

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge ObservationsThe Arctic RIMS and the R-Arctic Net datasets

Åsa RennermalmPrinceton University

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Arctic-RIMS : Arctic – Regional, Integrated Hydrological Monitoring System

• R-Arctic Net : Regional, Hydrometeorological Data Network for the pan-Arctic Region

• Made available by the Water Systems Analysis Group at University of New Hampshire

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• What characterize the discharge data provided by Arctic-RIMS and R-Arctic Net?– Spatial distribution of runoff

measuring stations– Temporal distribution of runoff

measuring stations

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• What are the differences between Arctic-RIMS and R-Arctic Net?

5091 runoff measuring stations

Historical dataset? (1871-2001)

URL: www.r-arcticnet.sr.unh.edu

57 runoff measuring stations

Runoff data continuously updated?

More data variables than just runoff

Data exploration tool

URL: rims.unh.edu

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Arctic RIMS data exploration toolData types:Permafrost, Precipitation, Temperature, Runoff (modeled and measured)and more..

Visualization:Gridded dataTime series of point dataAnimations of gridded data over time

Temporal resolution:Daily, monthly, annual, climatology

Spatial coverage:Pan ArcticMajor basinsWatersheds

URL: rims.unh.edu

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Data set characteristics– Spatial distribution (all geo-referenced

stations)

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Data set characteristics– Time series length

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Long time series - important for studying change

Long runoff time series

• Longer than 24 years

• No more than 25% missing data in any season

• Last measurement between 1985-2001

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Long time series - temporal distribution

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Long time series – 1960-1985

1198 stations

1960 1980 2000

Time period:

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Long time series – 1965-1990

902 stations

1960 1980 2000

Time period:

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Long time series – 1970-1995

610 stations

1960 1980 2000

Time period:

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Long time series – 1975-2000

280 stations

1960 1980 2000

Time period:

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

Conclusions• Arctic RIMS extends until present day• R-Arctic Net greater spatial and temporal

distribution

Questions• Are there more recent data from the R-Arctic

Net stations?• What is the cause of the late 20th century drop

in number of stations?– Station closure?– Unreported data?

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Geo-referencing and calculation of unit discharge require information about:– Latitude– Longitude– Discharge area

• 802 of the 5091 R-Arctic Net stations has no information about either latitude, longitude or discharge area

• How valuable are these stations?• What characterize them?

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Data set characteristics

Stations with no information about latitude, longitude or discharge area

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Data set characteristics

Stations with no information about latitude, longitude or discharge area

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Data set characteristics

Stations with no information about latitude, longitude or discharge area

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

Summary• The stations with no information

about latitude, longitude or discharge area have runoff time series characterized by being short.

• About 50 of the stations with long time series have less than 25% missing data.

Arctic Discharge ObservationsArctic Discharge Observations

• Drainage area size