Red Butte Weather Station Logbook (Fall 2011 to present)

Maintenance log and visits to Red Butte weather stations:

(also see:)

2-03-2014

  • Modified new WS4 file (original data in WS4_140115_orig.dat):
  • Changed errors (6999, -6999) to NaN
  • Removed lines that were clear errors and changed dates back to 2013/14 (lines 174-end)
  • Modified new WS6 file (original data in WS6_140115_orig.dat):
  • Changed errors (6999, -6999) to NaN
  • Added a column filled with 6 that is missing (a glitch in the new program).
  • Removed a day that had a duplicate record (day 325)
  • Removed lines that were clear errors and changed dates back to 2013/14 (lines 176-end)
  • Plotted the data collected on 1/11/2014 and 1/15/2014
  • WS1 (in the garden)
    • There was a power outage on day 341 (Dec 7, 2013) and all data is missing after that.
    • T/RH = new sensor seems to be working fine
    • Wind sensor 1 = still not working
    • Wind sensor 2 = ok, and this has windspeed and wind direction
    • Rain gauge = ok
    • PAR = ok (ten minute only)
    • Battery = ok? I suspect the battery is not functioning because nighttime periods are not recorded (no solar panel input?)
  • WS2 (by the reservoir)
    • T/RH = ok
    • Wind sensor = New sensor working fine
    • Rain gauge = still ok
    • Battery = losing capacity, low and erratic voltages - needs to be replaced.
  • WS4 (halfway up canyon)
    • There was a power outage that reset the date around Nov 19, 2013 and it looks like data resumed a bit in early Jan (2014).
    • T/RH = ok
    • Wind sensor = OK
    • Rain gauge = not working.
    • Battery = losing capacity, low and erratic voltages - needs to be replaced.
  • WS6 (top of Parleys fork)
    • There was a power outage that reset the date around Dec 3, collection resumed, then stopped around Jan 1, 2014.
    • T/RH = ok
    • Wind sensor = ok
    • Rain gauge = ok
    • Battery = losing capacity, low and erratic voltages - needs to be replaced.
  • TO DO:
  • Check WS1 and replace battery (probably)
  • Fix WS6 program (missing fourth column in data output should be WS #)

1-20-2014

  • Downloaded data from all storage modules and uploaded to Dropbox
  • Storage modules are cleared,tested, and have programs loaded.

1-15-2014

  • Pulled storage module from WS4 and WS6
  • WS 4 initially seemed to be unresponsive, but after testing voltage it again seemed fine.
  • Set the clocks for both.
  • All 4 stations have modules with the program loaded in location 8.

1-11-2014

  • Pulled storage module from WS1 and WS2
  • WS1 seemed to not be collecting data at the time, so I reloaded the program and it then seemed alright.

7-6-2013

  • Replaced wind sensor at WS2 with a replacement from an Ehleringer storage cabinet. Seems to work fine (Met One 014C).
  • Sensor with the broken bearing was labeled and put back in the Ehleringer cabinet where the replacement came from.

6-7-2013

  • Replaced T/RH sensor on WS1 with an HMP45AC that susan found.
  • I don't know much about this sensor (when it was last calibrated, etc.), and I used the standard multiplier and offset (in Campbell manual).
  • Uploaded the new datalogger program to read this sensor - seems to be working
  • The new program is in the project Dropbox (130606 version).
  • Swapped the storage module to get data from 5-23 to today.
  • The file for this period is in the Dropbox, and the data haven't been added to the aggregated files yet.

5-31-2013

  • Visited WS1
  • The Vaisala HMP35 is broken - one wire lead for the thermistor is sheared off.
  • Temporarily put an old HMP35 (found at garden) on WS1 and removed the current one for inspection.

  • Visited WS4 & 6

  • Installed new storage modules
  • Transferred datalogger programs from new modules to dataloggers
  • Reset clocks
  • Data is being collected again at these sites, and future power outages shouldn't cause a problem (programs are in location 8 in the SMs).

5-29-2013

  • Changed the date for all WS6 data files (that I have collected)
  • I did this based on storage module dates - so I know the start/stop dates for each file
  • As usual - there are _orig files in the directory that haven't been changed
  • Plotted the data collected on 5-3 and 5-23
  • WS1 (in the garden)
    • There was a power outage that reset the date over the winter - I fixed this in the datafile (and there is a _orig version saved).
    • T/RH = Seems to have broken on 1-5-2013. It is reading a negative number all the time
    • This affects the vapor pressure measurements also
    • Wind sensor 1 = still not working
    • Wind sensor 2 = ok, and this has windspeed and wind direction
    • Rain gauge = ok
    • PAR = ok (ten minute only)
    • Battery = ok? (:!: This is also reading ~-46 like the T sensor, but I checked it with a multimeter on 5-23-2013 and it was ok - ~13V)
  • WS2 (by the reservoir)
    • T/RH = ok
    • Wind sensor = Data are flat for the last 1-2 months. Dave E confirms that the sensor has frozen up (bearing?) and it will need to be replaced.
    • Rain gauge = ok for the last year, though it looks like it had problems before that
    • Battery = ok (still losing capacity, but voltage is > 12)
  • WS4 (halfway up canyon)
    • There was a power outage that reset the date over the winter
    • Only a few days of data were collected - all sensors looked ok in this short time, except maybe the rain gauge.
  • WS6 (top of Parleys fork)
    • There was a power outage that reset the date over the winter.
    • Only a few days of data were collected, and data look ok in this short time.
    • The date is wrong for this WS, and the last few datafiles - this was adjusted using dates of collection.
    • :!: NOTE that there is a _orig file with unchanged data (datalogger dates say 2004).
  • TO DO:
  • Swap storage modules for WS2-6 with modules that have programs loaded in location 8.
    • Load these on to 4 & 6 after they are swapped
  • Test and replace T-RH unit on WS1

5-23-2013

  • Revisited WS1 and WS4.
  • Cut the lock off of WS1 (never found the key), and swapped the storage module.
  • There are some problems with WS1 data.
  • There was a power outage that reset the date over the winter - I fixed this in the datafile (and there is a _orig version saved).
  • Data from the temperature sensor is bad and it is affecting vapor pressure measurements.
  • The battery voltage is reading ~-46 - this may be related to the temperature problem.
  • Checked the WS4 battery and solar panel voltages and downloaded the running program from the CR10.
  • Battery and solar panels seem fine.
  • The running program looked invalid - was probably erased in a power outage.
  • REMEMBER - When swapping out modules, store the datalogger program in location 8 (see here).

5-3-2013

  • Visited WS2, 4, & 6 to swap storage modules
  • WS4 & 6 were not collecting data, and appeared to have lost power (and their programs)
  • The data collection stopped soon after the fall 2012 visit.
  • WS6 Still thinks it is 2031 - need to reset clock
  • WS2 seems OK.
  • WS1 was was inaccessible because the key was missing from the usual place.

1-8-2013

  • Went to WS1 (Garden) and downloaded all data (Austin needed early Nov. data)
  • Reset clock on datalogger - it had reset itself to 4 years earlier for some reason. Date of this change was sometime after the last collection (early Nov).

11-2-5-2012

  • Visited weather stations 1-4 and swapped out storage modules.
  • Took photos and checked wiring.
  • Plotted data
  • WS1 (in the garden)
    • T/RH = ok
    • Wind sensor 1 = not working
    • Wind sensor 2 = ok, and this has windspeed and wind direction
    • Rain gauge = ok
    • PAR = ok (ten minute only)
    • Battery = ok? (:!: Big drop in voltage, but everything seems to be working ok - not sure I believe the drop)
  • WS2 (by the reservoir)
    • T/RH = ok
    • Wind sensor = ok
    • Rain gauge = ok for the last year, though it looks like it had problems before that
    • Battery = ok (still losing capacity, but voltage is > 12)
  • WS4 (halfway up canyon)
    • T/RH = ok
    • Wind sensor = ok
    • Rain gauge = looks like my fix helped, but it may be down again
    • Battery = capacity is better now, but there may be a bad connection and a slow decline in capacity.
  • WS6 (top of Parleys fork)
    • This datalogger is having problems, looks like a short may be resetting the date. Most of the data seems intact though.
    • NOTE that I doctored the data file (using my best judgement) to remove bad data. There is a raw data file marked _orig on the data download site that contains the un-doctored data. Missing or removed data are marked as "NaN" in all other files.
    • T/RH = ok
    • Wind sensor = ok
    • Rain gauge = ok
    • Battery = battery capacity back up to 12v? I think there must be a short somewhere.

4-9-2012 Plotted 4/4 weather station data today:

  • WS1 (in the garden)
  • T/RH = ok
  • Wind sensor 1 = not working
  • Wind sensor 2 = ok, and this has windspeed and wind direction
  • Rain gauge = ok
  • PAR = ok
  • Battery = ok (losing capacity?)
  • WS2 (by the reservoir)
  • T/RH = ok
  • Wind sensor = ok
  • Rain gauge = ok for the last year, though it looks like it had problems before that
  • Battery = ok (losing capacity?)
  • WS4 (halfway up canyon)
  • T/RH = ok
  • Wind sensor = ok
  • Rain gauge = still broken, but may have been fixed at last visit
  • Battery = abruptly lost capacity (down to ~10V), seems to power the sensors though
  • WS6 (top of Parleys fork)
  • Datalogger needs time reset (thinks it is 2003)
  • T/RH = ok
  • Wind sensor = ok
  • Rain gauge = ok
  • Battery = low capacity (down to 9-10V), seems to power the sensors though

4-4-2012

  • Visited weather stations 1-6 and swapped out storage modules.
  • Did some taping of wiring at weather stations 2 and 4 (insulation on wires is cracking)

11-28-2011 - Greg and Susan visited WS6

  • Uploaded WS6_111122.dld program from the laptop
  • Verified that all sensors were working - all were, including the T/RH and precip gauge.
  • Replaced T/RH sensor shelter with a new one and realligned/reattached precip gauge.

11-21-22-2011

  • SC32A jumper set as per CS instructions. It should be possible to connect to a CR10 with this in the field.
  • Rebuilt WS6 program from Dropbox using Edlog (Document DLD File). The most recent file was called WS2_071030.dld. Leaving T/RH calibrations (multiplier and offsets) alone even though it is likely we will replace this sensor. May have to do a calibration of all sensors in spring.
  • WS6_111122.CSI is now on Dropbox
  • Went through calibration data on Dropbox - Looks like all T/RH sensors were calibrated (except maybe #4)in the recent past using a dewpoint generator.

11-16-2011 - Plotted data from all sensors in matlab to look at what sensors are working. This is what I found:

  • WS1 (in the garden)
  • T/RH = ok
  • Wind sensor 1 = not working
  • Wind sensor 2 = ok, and this has windspeed and wind direction
  • Rain gauge = ok
  • PAR = ok, though there is a weird seasonal jump in PAR (by about 300μmol m^-2^ s^-1^ in the middle of summer)
  • Battery = ok (no charging problems)
  • WS2 (by the reservoir)
  • T/RH = ok
  • Wind sensor = ok
  • Rain gauge = ok for the last year, though it looks like it had problems before that
  • Battery = ok (no charging problems)
  • WS4 (halfway up canyon)
  • T/RH = ok
  • Wind sensor = ok
  • Rain gauge = broken for the last 1.5 years
  • Battery = seems to be losing capacity over time and may need replacement soon

10-7-2011

  • Was able to download data from all 3 returned storage modules (WS1, 2, & 4)
  • See procedure here
  • Uplodaded data files to project Dropbox

10-5-2011 - Susan and Greg visited WS6

  • T/RH and rain sensors are both bent out of shape
  • Station appears to have lost power and there is no program running.

9-30-2011 - Collected storage module from WS1 at around 5:30pm

9-27-2011 - Susan and Greg collected storage modules from WS2 & 4, did not reach WS6.