Quality Control Impacts on Total Precipitation Gauge Records for Montane Valley and Ridge Sites in SW Alberta, Canada

Celeste Barnes and Chris Hopkinson
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Celeste Barnes: Department of Geography & Environment, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, AB T1H 3M4, Canada
Chris Hopkinson: Department of Geography & Environment, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive W, Lethbridge, AB T1H 3M4, Canada

Data, 2022, vol. 7, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: This paper presents adjustment routines for Geonor totalizing precipitation gauge data collected from the headwaters of the Oldman River, within the southwestern Alberta Canadian Rockies. The gauges are situated at mountain valley and alpine ridge locations with varying degrees of canopy cover. These data are prone to sensor noise and environment-induced measurement errors requiring an ordered set of quality control (QC) corrections using nearby weather station data. Sensor noise at valley sites with single-vibrating wire gauges accounted for the removal of 5% to 8% (49–76 mm) of annual precipitation. This was compensated for by an increase of 6% to 8% (50–76 mm) from under-catch. A three-wire ridge gauge did not experience significant sensor noise; however, the under-catch of snow resulted in 42% to 52% (784–1342 mm) increased precipitation. When all QC corrections were applied, the annual cumulative precipitation at the ridge demonstrated increases of 39% to 49% (731–1269 mm), while the valley gauge adjustments were −4% to 1% (−39 mm to 13 mm). Public sector totalizing precipitation gauge records often undergo minimal QC. Care must be exercised to check the corrections applied to such records when used to estimate watershed water balance or precipitation orographic enhancement. Systematic errors at open high-elevation sites may exceed nearby valley or forest sites.

Keywords: precipitation; totalizing precipitation gauge; Geonor; time-series adjustment; quality control; Canadian Rockies; Waterton; Castle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C8 C80 C81 C82 C83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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