Continuous soil temperature, specific conductance, and volumetric water content measurements from the F6 Active Layer Monitoring Station (ALMS01), McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (2014-2021, ongoing)

As part of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project, five Active Layer Monitoring Stations (ALMSs) were established throughout Taylor Valley, Antarctica to support new research foci around the thermal-moisture dynamics of soils that may control habitat conditions and faunal responses to seasonal and annual freezing cycles in this ecosystem. Two ALMSs were established adjacent to streams (Green Creek, Von Guerard Stream), with sensors installed through the active layer from the thalweg out to the shoreline and dry soil beyond. Two ALMSs were similarly established adjacent to water tracks (Wormherder Creek, Water Track B) that are zero-order drainages of snow and ice melt that rarely have surface flow. The remaining station was established in dry soil (F6) to serve as an ambient control. ALMSs measure soil temperature, soil moisture (as volumetric water content; VWC), and specific conductance (as electrical conductivity; EC) through the active layer (soil surface down to the frost table) at several locations from the water’s edge to dry soils. This data package contains measurements from the Active Layer Monitoring Station at F6 (ALMS01), located on the south shore of Lake Fryxell.