Victorian Alpine Plot Network (Alpine Long Term Monitoring - Community Changes): Climatic Data, South-east Highlands, Australia, 2012–2014

Abstract: The Victorian Alpine Plot Network Climatic Data Package contains climate data collected at a sub-set of the 481 long term monitoring plots situated in the Australian Alps. The climate data monitoring data comprises average hourly air temperature and location data for each of the snowpatch monitoring sites.

This is part of a much larger dataset that spans from 1944, when plot were set up to document long-term changes in ecosystem composition and structure in relation to disturbance (see methods for more information). The Victorian Alpine Plot Network research plots are revisited on a 2–10 years basis.

A synopsis of related data packages which have been collected as part of the Victorian Alpine Plot Network’s full program is provided at https://doi.org/10.25911/5c11c3d283b0e

Sampling method: This protocol was established during the 2011-12 season. Loggers are set to highest resolution (0.06°C) and are start delayed so that readings are recorded on the hour. We place both loggers 50 mm above the bare soil surface, attached to a wooden stake (100 mm wide) and facing south, hence shaded. Where temperature data from the two loggers is not within a 0.5°C range of each other we exclude the data which is consistent with procedures followed by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. These data are downloaded every five (5) months before rollover occurs (4028 readings gives 167 days at the settings recommended).

Study extent: See sampling method

Project funding: Between 2012 and 2018 this project was part of, and funded through the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTERN) a facility within the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN) and supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy.