Pontbren Hillslope Runoff and Soil Tension Data 2005-2009

Hydrological data from an instrumented grassland hillslope with a contour-planted tree shelterbelt in mid-Wales, UK. Measurements include overland flow runoff, drain flow, and soil water tension collected between 2005 and 2009. Data are provided in .txt files, generally split into six-month blocks and include quality assurance codes for each point.

Use Cases

• Analyze overland flow volume (mm) patterns from isolated 5m x 5m plots to study runoff generation within the tree shelterbelt.
• Model soil water tension (cm H2O) dynamics using tensiometer data from transects installed above, within, and below the tree shelterbelt.
• Correlate flow rate (ls-1) data from weir box systems with soil water tension to understand hillslope hydrological connectivity.
• Utilize quality assurance (QA) codes associated with each data point to filter or weight records for time-series analysis.

Strengths

• Multi-year temporal coverage from 2005 to 2009, capturing seasonal and annual hydrological variability.
• Includes three distinct data types: overland flow, drain flow, and soil water tension from specific instrumented locations.
• Each data point is accompanied by a quality assurance (QA) code, supporting data validation.

Limitations

• Data structure and exact row/column counts are unspecified, requiring exploration of multiple .txt files within subdirectories.
• Measurements are from a single, specific hillslope study site, limiting geographical generalizability.
• Associated parameters like soil moisture and groundwater height are in separate datasets, requiring joins for a complete analysis.

Provenance

Source

Environmental Information Data Centre

Collection Method

Instrumentation including overland flow traps, weir boxes with pressure transducers, and tensiometers, with data logged at 5- or 10-minute intervals.

Time Range

2005 to 2009

Freshness

null

Geography

Pontbren study catchment, mid-Wales, United Kingdom