Field Notes

Tonzi/Vaira June 8, 2006
D159

Traveled to Tonzi/Vaira Ranches with Jessica and Xingyuan

Mild day, with breeze from the coast region. High cirrus most of the day.

Dropped JC and XC at Tonzi and went to Vaira.

Vaira Ranch


Tair about 21.3, P = 99.31 kPa, RH = 42% and Tsoil on the order of 21 C. All the grass was dead. A lot of Avena, wild oats, and they have headed and seeded. Some of the grass was standing, around 50 cm and lots other had lodged.

Power: 13.7 v, 11 amp and 2.1 amp load

Downloaded data.

Turbulence signals looked good and in range

W .11; u: -.9;>

25Meg free on the pc.

Cleaned radiometers, but they were mostly clean. Swapped the filter on the T/RH. Aspirator was running, but making noise. May need to swap out or be prepared for a replacement.

1100-1140 pdt, took spectral reflectance. Lots of clouds, so took reference, sample, reference sample etc.

Tonzi Ranch

Cows were being removed from the ranch this day.

1100 Pst

Downloading data. System is working well and are on scale. No spiking.
W: -.12; u: .99;>
C1.65.

N2 2100 and 20 psi
CO2 cal gas 2000 psi and 12 psi. They are still full, looks like it is not being used ****

Power: 13.4 v; 12 amp, load 4.2 amp

The Video camera is writing to the system intermittently. Some days it writes and others it does.

Still need to work to get a clearer image.

Forest floor
Downloaded data.


W: -.26; u: .78;>

Looked at soil co2 profiles. Nice gradients with depth and much more CO2 production under the tree. Everything is on scale.

Instrument and system issues

1. CO2 profile system

No data was on the computer. I went up the tower and found that one ribbon cable was not connected to the MD9. I was able to make connection and was able to inspect the data. The system was running, but there are some changes in software that are needed.

A. only hourly averages are being put out and they are being written at 8 minutes after the hour
B. there seems to be no calibration being conducted (tanks remain full) and I saw no calibration data on the output files. At least we are collecting data though.
C. I'd like to see a set of written instructions posted in the computer box so I can do a manual zero and calibration. I get real confused and forget all the steps to do it right.


2. Tram

The tram as stalled and the battery low. I started to recharge the battery, but as I rolled the system to the docking port I see that the wheels bind at different areas of the track. The bottom line is that the grooves in the wheels are too narrow and give us no 'give' for subtle bends in the track and thermal expansion. We need to do the wheels one more time, or find another vendor for steel wheels. I brought the tram in to work on.

3. Floor fence

The fence was broken and I fixed it, but also found that the fence was never connected to the zapper. I made the connnection anew. We walked the fence to make sure no sparks or fire. All is insulated from the fence as is appropriate.

4. I found clean filters for the T/RH and swapped the one at Vaira. Washed and cleaned the old one. Should be ok for future use.

5. We need to fix and re attach the levels on the Spectrometer mount. The current grooves are not working well. I'd like to have the rod rotate freely, but fix it with a cotter pin. That will be faster and easier for the up and down looks. This way I only set it correct looking up and then rotate it 180 degrees easily and quickly.

Soil moisture - TDR probes			Date: 06/08/06	jDay:159	Name	DDB/XC
Battery (v) - the first reading after turn on			12.7
Site	SN#	Depth	Reading1	Reading2	Reading3
Tonzi
Tower	7391afe	0-15	7.4	6.6	7.1	1
		15-30	14.3	15.2	14.6	1
		30-45	19.5	20.0	21.1	1
		45-60	17.4	17.7	17.9	1
Floor_under canopy	402165	0-15	5.1	4.6	5.1	2
		15-30	14.3	13.1	14.9	2
		30-45	14.4	13.8	14.1	2
		45-60	10.7	10.7	11.6	2
floor_solar panel	574b4b	0-15	8.0	11.4	9.1	3
		15-30	16.1	14.9	15.8	3
		30-45	8.4	7.9	6.8	3
		45-60	1.9	1.9	1.9	3
between soil profile open site and floor	402ff3	0-15	6.8	7.4	7.1	4
		15-30	13.7	12.8	12.5	4
		30-45	15.2	14.9	14.9	4
		45-60	16.3	16.0	17.1	4
soil profile open site	574632	0-15	11.1	16.2	10.5	5
		15-30	8.1	6.6	9.0	5
		30-45	3.6	3.8	3.6	5
Soil profile transect		45-60	14.9	14.3	14.3	5
#4	97a432e	0-15	7.1	8.0	8.0	6
		15-30	7.8	7.2	8.1	6
		30-45	10.3	10.3	10.0	6
		45-60	12.7	12.1	12.1	6
#3	97a3c6e	0-15	8.5	8.8	8.5	7
		15-30	12.8	12.2	13.1	7
		30-45	13.8	13.3	14.9	7
		45-60	12.4	12.7	12.7	7
Site	SN#	Depth	Reading1	Reading2	Reading3
#2	97a3b40	0-15	5.1	5.4	5.1	8
		15-30	12.2	12.5	12.0	8
		30-45	17.1	17.1	16.5	8
		45-60	21.0	21.0	21.5	8
#1	97a4aaa	0-15	2.3	2.6	2.3	9
		15-30	2.5	2.2	1.9	9
		30-45	13.8	13.8	13.8	9
#1-#4 from big tree to open		45-60	11.3	12.1	12.1	9
#A	A6D882B	0-15	12.2	12.8	12.8	10
		15-30	8.7	8.4	8.1	10
		30-45	18.7	18.4	18.9	10
		45-60	23.2	23.2	23.5	10
#B	A3D04E8	0-15	11.7	12.5	11.4	11
		15-30	8.1	8.1	8.7	11
		30-45	18.1	17.9	19.5	11
		45-60	15.4	16.5	15.4	11
#C	A6D72F5	0-15	3.4	3.7	3.1	12
		15-30	12.8	13.7	13.1	12
		30-45	14.9	14.4	14.6	12
#A-#C from big tree to MINIRT		45-60	3.8	4.1	4.1	12
Vaira	5731Aa	0-15				1
		15-30	4.9	5.5	4.9	1
		30-45	12.2	12.2	13.8	1
		45-60	16.0	16.3	16.0	1
	7933FDE	0-15	3.4	4.3	4.8	2
		15-30	9.6	9.3	9.0	2
		30-45	11.1	11.7	13.3	2
		45-60	15.4	15.7	16.0	2