Samford Peri-Urban Site, Ecosystem Water Use, Influence of Vegetation Type and Topography, 2011-2014

Brief description

The data set contains information on the soil water content at various depths in the Samford Ecological Research Facility (SERF), Samford Peri-Urban Site. Information on soil water content is provided from two sensors, i.e., 1) Sentek Solo, for high frequency sampling and 2) Sentek Diviner, for coarser resolution sampling.

Lineage

Since January 2011, soil water use from each vegetation community has been monitored using a combination of high temporal resolution automatic and manually sampled soil moisture probes. Using the high definition LIDAR derived digital elevation model, a number of permanent transects within each community of the SERF property were identified. These transects were orientated towards the slope aspect, allowing flows to be traced down the sub-catchment slopes and into the riparian zones and the creek system. Transects were located to ensure the maximum coverage of the different vegetation community types. Each transect encompassed only a single vegetation community, with the exception of the riparian vegetation which included the lowest monitoring point on several transects to link with stream water data. Each transect contained at least 3 soil water monitoring sites, encompassing the upslope, mid-slope and lower slope areas. High resolution soil moisture data is measured using 19 FDR (frequency domain reflectometry) probes (Sentek Solo, Odyssey GLRL) logged at 30 minute intervals. Each probe contains 4-5 sensors, allowing specified depths/horizons of the soil profile to be continuously monitored. At least one transect per land use consists solely of automated sensors allowing soil water movement down the slope profile to be monitored. The high resolution data is replicated on the remaining transects with soil profiles measured manually on a weekly basis using a portable soil water profiler (Diviner 2000, Sentek).

Methods: 1) Sensor deployment: FDR moisture probes were installed across the SEQ Peri-urban supersite (SERF node) at 30 locations in July 2011. Volumetric water contents were recorded from up to 13 depths to a maximum soil depth of 130 cm. A combination of high temporal resolution (30 minutes intervals) and coarser weekly sampling was used to extend the spatial coverage across the research station. For high frequency sampling (Sentek Solo) the depth-wise sensor distribution was determined by the major soil horizon depths at each location with at least one sensor located in each of the A1, A2 and B2 horizons. For coarser resolution sampling (Sentek Diviner), data were collected at 10cm depth intervals. Sensors were calibrated for each soil horizon against gravimetric moisture contents (105°C for 24 hours) at a dry, saturated and intermediate moisture level.

Instrumentation details: a) Sentek Solo (EnviroSCAN Sentek, Stepney, SA, Australia); b) Sentek Diviner (EnviroSCAN Sentek, Stepney, SA, Australia) Sensor depths (cm) 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80

2) Ecosystem Water-Use study: Using the high definition LIDAR derived digital elevation model, a number of permanent transects within each community of the SERF property were identified. These transects were orientated towards the slope aspect, allowing flows to be traced down the sub-catchment slopes and into the riparian zones and the creek system. Transects were located to ensure the maximum coverage of the different vegetation community types. Each transect encompassed only a single vegetation community, with the exception of the riparian vegetation which included the lowest monitoring point on several transects to link with stream water data. Each transect contained at least 3 soil water monitoring sites, encompassing the upslope, mid-slope and lower slope areas.

Progress Code: completed

Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned

Notes

Credit
We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.