Hiking up to the next plot…
Water resources are essential for drinking, agriculture, and hydropower, particularly in the western United States. Climate change is altering the timing and availability of these resources, especially in snowmelt-dominated watersheds. This study examines how physical characteristics and climatic factors influence the spatial and temporal variability of beaver pond surface temperatures within the East River watershed, Colorado. Using high-frequency temperature and hydrological data, along with bathymetric and thermal data from Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), we assessed the relationships among pond surface temperature, air temperature, and stream discharge, a proxy for snowmelt. Structure from Motion (SfM) was employed to map pond bathymetry, and thermal infrared imagery was used to analyze pond surface temperature. A total of 55 flights across 2022 and 2023 imaged 64 different beaver ponds. Air temperature was the best predictor of mean pond temperature across time, while the timing of spring warming and pond depth explained among-pond variability in surface water temperature. This study reveals the potential of repeated flights by UAS to enhance our understanding of climate-driven hydrological changes and provides an important foundation for future investigation of the impacts of such changes on aquatic ecosystems in mountain environments.
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