Variability of Water Temperature in a Section of the Lower West Branch Susquehanna River at Lewisburg and Chillisquaque, Pennsylvania

Start Date

10-11-2017 8:00 PM

End Date

10-11-2017 9:59 PM

Description

A network of six buoys and river bed temperature sensors were built and deployed at two river cross section locations on the West Branch of the Susquehanna at Lewisburg and Chillisquaque, Pennsylvania. The buoys were equipped with sensors collecting 15-minute measurements of solar radiation (W m-2), relative humidity, air temperature (°C), and water temperature (°C) at the water’s surface and at mid-depth. An additional temperature sensor was placed on the bed of the river. Flows in the river were relatively normal for this time of the year (July 2017), with channel widths averaging 200-220 m and depths 1-2 m. Downstream changes in temperatures were generally consistent, with .278 °C km-1 increase between Lewisburg and Chillisquaque. Cross-sectional variability in temperatures were much more complex. Temperatures in the middle of the channel showed only 1-2 °C warming from the water surface to the bed, with albedo and long-wave stream bed conduction effects warming waters along the bed of the river. In general, water temperatures are a subdued replica of air temperatures, with atmospheric and solar radiation effects dominating diurnal variability in water temperatures in the river. Peak diurnal water temperatures typically lag peak diurnal solar radiation by several hours each day. The buoys deployed approximately 10 m from banks of the channel indicate that shading from the riparian corridor dominate the temperature variability along the margins of the river, with the middle and west bank portions of the channel experiencing 600-800 W m-2 more solar radiation during morning hours and temperatures as much as 3.33°C warmer than the left (shaded) portions of the channel. Turbidity, or water clarity, dominates light penetration in the water column and during clear water conditions.

Keywords

West Branch Susquehanna River, water properties, environmental monitoring

Type

Poster

Session

Poster session

Language

eng

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Nov 10th, 8:00 PM Nov 10th, 9:59 PM

Variability of Water Temperature in a Section of the Lower West Branch Susquehanna River at Lewisburg and Chillisquaque, Pennsylvania

Elaine Langone Center, Terrace Room

A network of six buoys and river bed temperature sensors were built and deployed at two river cross section locations on the West Branch of the Susquehanna at Lewisburg and Chillisquaque, Pennsylvania. The buoys were equipped with sensors collecting 15-minute measurements of solar radiation (W m-2), relative humidity, air temperature (°C), and water temperature (°C) at the water’s surface and at mid-depth. An additional temperature sensor was placed on the bed of the river. Flows in the river were relatively normal for this time of the year (July 2017), with channel widths averaging 200-220 m and depths 1-2 m. Downstream changes in temperatures were generally consistent, with .278 °C km-1 increase between Lewisburg and Chillisquaque. Cross-sectional variability in temperatures were much more complex. Temperatures in the middle of the channel showed only 1-2 °C warming from the water surface to the bed, with albedo and long-wave stream bed conduction effects warming waters along the bed of the river. In general, water temperatures are a subdued replica of air temperatures, with atmospheric and solar radiation effects dominating diurnal variability in water temperatures in the river. Peak diurnal water temperatures typically lag peak diurnal solar radiation by several hours each day. The buoys deployed approximately 10 m from banks of the channel indicate that shading from the riparian corridor dominate the temperature variability along the margins of the river, with the middle and west bank portions of the channel experiencing 600-800 W m-2 more solar radiation during morning hours and temperatures as much as 3.33°C warmer than the left (shaded) portions of the channel. Turbidity, or water clarity, dominates light penetration in the water column and during clear water conditions.