Autonomous surface flux station deployment

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Method synopsis

Deployment of autonomous atmospheric surface flux stations (ASFSs) for continuous measurement of surface energy balance components including meteorology, radiation, and turbulent fluxes in remote high-elevation environments. Stations designed for multi-year operation without power grid access using methanol fuel cells.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 1 paper using this protocol.

Procedure as described in the canonical source

Steps below were extracted from the paper that introduces this protocol — Observations of surface energy fluxes and meteorology in the seasonally snow-covered high-elevation East River watershed during SPLASH, 2021–2023 (2025), Earth System Science Data. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Deploy ASFS-30 station at Kettle Ponds Annex
   Installed ASFS-30 on two wooden picnic tables with boom facing approximately south to reduce shading of radiation sensors. Station positioned 400m south and down-valley of KPS site, at elevation 2856±0.6m within a wide, gently sloping portion of valley locally 4-7° slope.
   Quantities: Single station with 3m boom height, positioned 3.5m off either side of boom centerline for conductive flux plates, 4m east of rear for soil probe, 5cm depth for flux platesDuration: Deployed 28 September 2021, operated until 19 July 2023Conditions: High-elevation alpine environment near 3000m elevation with seasonal snow cover
   Equipment: ASFS-30, wooden picnic tables, conductive flux plates, soil probe, fencing
2. Deploy ASFS-50 station at Avery Picnic
   Installed ASFS-50 station approximately 1.8km up-valley from Gothic along Colorado State Highway 317. Station positioned just east of road with boom height at 2933±0.7m elevation on generally flat terrain with undulating surface.
   Quantities: Single station with boom height 2933m elevation, separate snow-profiling thermistor string 4m east of station, 0.5m soil probe approximately 4m east of rearDuration: Deployed 12 October 2021, operated until 21 June 2023Conditions: Valley floor environment, narrower than KPS-A site with steeper terrain to east and west
   Equipment: ASFS-50, thermistor string, soil probe, fencing

Typical Equipment

• ASFS-30
• ASFS-50
• EFOY Pro Duo 2400
• Campbell Scientific CR1000X

Output Measurements

• air temperature
• humidity
• pressure
• wind velocity
• radiative fluxes
• turbulent heat fluxes
• soil temperature
• soil moisture

Papers Using This Protocol (1)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used