Delaware (DEL) NERR Meteorological Metadata January - December 2002 Latest Update: June 21, 2004

Meteorological monitoring is conducted at 26 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR)
from at least one location within or adjacent to the reserve. Data are collected every 5 seconds
and averages are produced from this data at quarterly (15 minutes), hourly (60 minutes) and
daily (1440 minutes) intervals. The parameters collected within these intervals are: averages,
maximums and minimums of air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed,
wind direction, precipitation and photosynthetically active solar radiation. Research objectives
The principal objective is to record long-term meteorological data for the St. Jones Estuary in
order to observe any environmental changes or trends over time. The data is also used for
specific research studies relating to migrating shorebirds, horseshoe crab spawning, atmospheric
deposition of nutrients and pesticides.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Associated researchers and projects The NERR Water Quality Monitoring Project also has three stations located at the DNERR.
The principal objective of this study is to record long-term water quality data for St. Jones
and Blackbird watersheds in order to observe any physical changes or trends in water quality
over time. The five sites represent a pristine site and the other four represent impacted sites.
Measurements are taken every 30 minutes over roughly two-week collecting periods. In addition
atmospheric deposition of rainfall events is performed in the DNERR watersheds to monitor and
characterize the nutrient input to the estuary from differing storm events and seasonally. Three
samplers are positioned across the St. Jones watershed and one is in the Blackbird watershed.
Other remarks/notes LiCor: Prior to the installation of the new NERR_4.CSI program, all values
less than 0 were altered in the raw data to read 0. These values may indicate an incorrect
multiplier, calibration problems, or a sensor malfunction. Because these values are changed in
the raw data, we cannot confirm that they are all valid data points. Relative Humidity: Prior to
the installation of the new NERR_4.CSI program, all values over 100% were altered in the raw
data to read 100%. These values may indicate super saturated air, calibration problems, or a
sensor malfunction. Because these values are changed in the raw data, we cannot confirm that
they are all valid data points. January Rainamount (mm) 6 26.416 7 .762 11 10.922 19 13.716 20
4.826 21 2.032 23 1.016 24 3.048 25 3.048 31 1.016 February Rainamount (mm) 1 1.016 7 9.652 10
2.286 11 .254 March Rainamount (mm) 2 11.938 3 5.080 10 .762 12 1.778 13 10.922 16 .508 17 4.318
18 18.288 20 23.622 26 17.526 27 6.604 31 17.272 April Rainamount (mm) 1 2.540 3 4.318 9 12.954
10 6.096 12 7.620 16 4.064 20 .508 21 .508 22 5.588 25 4.318 26 .508 27 2.794 28 57.912 May
Rainamount (mm) 2 26.670 4 3.556 5 1.016 7 .254 12 34.798 13 8.128 14 .508 17 1.524 18 22.606
June Rainamount (mm) 4 .254 5 12.446 6 22.352 7 1.778 13 3.048 14 4.826 15 .254 18 .508 19 .762
27 .762 28 .254 July Rainamount (mm) 9 .762 10 4.318 14 2.286 15 .254 23 37.084 24 .762 25 7.366
27 7.620 28 1.016 August Rainamount (mm) 6 1.270 24 13.462 28 24.384 29 41.656 31 .254 September
Rainamount (mm) 1 102.362 2 2.286 8 .254 9 .254 15 4.064 16 12.954 23 .254 26 20.574 27 4.826 28
3.048 October Rainamount (mm) 9 .762 10 63.500 11 29.464 12 1.016 13 2.794 15 2.794 16 37.084 17
1.270 18 .254 20 .254 23 .254 25 14.224 26 16.002 28 .508 29 23.876 30 10.160 31 1.270 November
Rainamount (mm) 5 14.986 6 10.160 11 8.636 12 26.670 13 6.604 16 57.658 17 20.320 19 .254 21
7.366 22 4.826 27 3.302 30 1.270 December Rainamount (mm) 5 1.270 6 2.286 7 3.810 8 2.794 11
36.830 13 18.288 20 16.256 22 .254 24 .762 25 19.558 30 .254

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE:
Observed

SPATIAL DATA ORGANIZATION INFORMATION:
Indirect Spatial Reference: Site location and character The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve is comprised of two component sites,
the St. Jones River and Blackbird Creek components. Both components are located along the
Delaware Bay Coast. The St. Jones River Component is located in central Kent County Delaware,
east of the State capitol city, Dover. The Blackbird Creek component is located in the
unincorporated area of Southern New Castle County. The meteorological station site, is located
in the St. Jones DNERR component. It is located in a tidal marsh area with a wooded fringe area
100 m to the north, 75 m to east, 75 m to the west and 1+ km to south. The wooded area is of an
approximate average height of 16 m. Position: Latitude 39 degree 05' 20.05" N Longitude 75
degree 26' 12.78" W The unit is mounted on a 3-meter tower adjacent to the boardwalk that
crosses the marsh. The elevations above the marsh surface are as follows; Barometric pressure -
2.2 m, temperature and relative humidity - 2.9 m , wind and PAR - 4.5 m, highest point on tower
(lightning rod) - 4.9 m. The rain gauge is 2.4 m above the surface and 3 m south of the tower.
The adjacent boardwalk is 1.1 m above the surface with a railing height of 1.0 m. A vegetative
cover of spartina surrounds the area with an average height of 1 m. The tower and rain gauge are
both 1 m east of the boardwalk. The weatherstation is located approximately 2 km from the water
quality datasonde at Scotton Landing.