Field Notes

<--2023-03-02 16:20:00 | 2023-03-23 10:00:00-->
Other sites visited today: Hill Slough | West Pond | East End

Gilbert Tract: 2023-03-17 10:40:00 (DOY 76)
Author: Daphne Szutu
Others: Luna, J.J.

Summary: Regular data collection/cleaning, visitors from UCSC, identified some plants

2023-03-17
Gilbert Tract

I arrived at 10:40 PDT with Luna and J.J. from UCSC, who are technicians responsible for the Elkhorn Slough towers. It was sunny with a chilly breeze and some thin clouds that looked like a sheet of waves (or a washboard). J.J., an atmospheric science major, told us why the waves are formed (turbulence?), but I can't remember the details now. We’ve had more rain in the past two weeks and more to come. Luna was a plant science major and a big fan of native plants so she helped me identify some of the plants growing around our tower such as saltbush, mulefat, elderberry, and mugwort. We plucked some fresh cattail and tule to compared them and fished some dead water hyacinth out of the channel to play with. Maybe something to do w/ the Knightsen students.

It was near high tide while we were here and the water level was above the staff gauge the whole time we were here. It was possible to walk out along the boardwalks and manually measure the water level above the staff gauge, but the boardwalks are unstable during high tide so I didn't do that.

I downloaded met, cam, and USB GHG data. I confirmed that the camera card had photos before I ejected it (it was missing photos the last time it was used) and made sure the fresh camera card mounted correctly. The USB did not mount at first (USB Status: Error), but I restarted the 7550 and all was well. I checked that the USB was logging and the 7700 was connected. Luna cleaned flux and rad sensors and J.J. topped off the reservoir.

The 7500 read: 437ppm CO2, 451mmol/m3 H2O, 14.4C, 101.8kPa, 102SS --> 103 after cleaning
The 7700 read: 2.1ppm CH4, 35RSSI –> 79 after cleaning

We got to the channel and downloaded Flo's data around 11:45 PDT. I synced Flo's clock with the laptop clock and made sure to restart logging after download data. Marc of Hydrofocus had left our rope under the solar panel earlier in the month after their 24hr sampling campaign. I didn't see it today and e-mailed Marc to follow up.

I meant to install more teabags today in prep for the Knightsen field trip but forgot to bring them.

We left at 12:15 PDT.

0 photos found

7 sets found

Can't check MBWPEESWGT_mixed
Can't check MBEEWPSWEPGT_cam
16 GT_met graphs found