Data Set Citation
McKnight D.McMurdo Dry Valley Stream Descriptions.
knb-lter-mcm.0001.1 (http://metacat.lternet.edu:8080/knb/metacat/knb-lter-mcm.0001.1/mcm).
Data Tables, Images, and Other Entities:
Metadata download:Ecological Metadata Language (EML) File
Data Table:strmdesc.dat
View Table Metadata
Short Name:strmdesc.dat
Online Distribution Info:
Download File:
http://www.mcmlter.org/data/streams/locations/strmdesc.dat
Data Set Owner(s):
Individual: Diane McKnight
Address:
INSTAAR,
1560 30th Street,
Campus Box 450 ,
Boulder, CO 80309-0450 USA
Phone:
(303)492-4687 (voice)
Email Address:
Diane.Mcknight@colorado.edu
Metadata Provider(s):
Organization:McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER
Address:
Byrd Polar Research Center ,
108 Scott Hall,
1090 Carmack Rd,
Columbus, OH 43210-1002 USA
Phone:
614-292-3229 (voice)
Phone:
(614) 292-4697 (fax)
Email Address:
mcmlter@bprc.mps.ohio-state.edu
Abstract:
 
As part of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, a systematic sampling program has been undertaken to monitor the the glacial meltwater streams in the region. Measurements are regularly made to examine water quality and quantity, as well as chemical and biological properties. The stream descriptions table serves as an index of the streams that have been studied. It documents the streams' basins and lengths, and provides a brief desciption of the landscape in which the streams are found.
Keywords:
 
  • stream (theme)
  • basin (theme)
  • length (theme)
Additional Information:
 
Citations
Alger, A.S., D.M. McKnight, S.A. Spaulding, C.M. Tate, G.H. Shupe, K.A. Welch, R. Edwards, E.D. Andrews, and H.R. House, 1997, Ecological Processes in a Cold Desert Ecosystem: The Abundance and Species Distribution of Algal Mats in Glacial Meltwater Streams in Taylor Valley, Antarctica, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Occasional Paper No. 51, 107p. Chinn, T.J. and A.K.C. Oliver. 1982. Hydrology and Glaciology Dry Valleys, Antarctica Annual Report for 1979-80. Ministry of Works and Development, Christchurch New Zealand, Report No. WS 808, 24p. Chinn, T.J. and A.K.C. Oliver. 1985. Hydrology and Glaciology Dry Valleys, Antarctica Annual Report for 1982-83. Ministry of Works and Development, Christchurch New Zealand, Report No. WS 1188, 28p. Fenwick, J.K. and P.W. Anderton. 1975. Dry Valleys, Antarctica 1972-73. Ministry of Works and Development for the National Water and Soil Conservation Organisation, New Zealand, Hydrological Research: Annual Report No. 34, 10p. Fenwick, J.K. and P.W. Anderton. 1976. Dry Valleys, Antarctica 1973-74. Ministry of Works and Development for the National Water and Soil Conservation Organisation, New Zealand, Hydrological Research: Annual Report No. 37, 10p. House, Harold R., McKnight, Diane M., Von Guerard, Paul. 1995. The influence of stream channel characteristics on streamflow and annual water budgets for lakes in Taylor Valley. Antarctic Journal of the U.S., 30(5): 284-287. McKnight, Diane, House, Harold, Von Guerard, Paul. 1994. McMurdo LTER: Streamflow Measurements in Taylor Valley. Antarctic Journal of the United States 29(5): 230-232
Notes
Data contained in these files has been subjected to quality control standards imposed by the investigator. The user of this data should be aware that, while efforts have been taken to ensure that these data are of the highest quality, there is no guarantee of perfection for the data contained herein and the possibility of errors exists. If you encounter questionable data, please contact the MCM LTER data manager corrected or qualified. Thus, these data may be modified and future data will be appended.
License and Usage Rights:
 
MCM LTER data may be used freely with the following restrictions:
The Principal Investigator be sent a notice stating reasons for acquiring any data and a description of the publication intentions. The Principal Investigator of the data set be sent a copy of the report or manuscript prior to submission and be adequately cited in any resultant publications. A copy of any resultant publications should be sent to the McMurdo data manager and principal investigator. The end-user follow the guidelines set forth in the LTER Network Data Access Policy, Data Access Requirements, and General Data Use Agreement found at http://www.mcmlter.org/data_guidelines.htm
Geographic Coverage:
Geographic Description: Study areas are located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of southern Victoria Land, Antarctica (on the western coast of the Ross Sea at 77oS). Although the majority of the streams in the study are found in Taylor Valley, data has also been collected from the nearby Miers, Alph, Wright, Pearse, Garwood, and Victoria Valleys.
Bounding Coordinates:
West:  162  degrees
East:  163.6  degrees
North:  -77.2  degrees
South:  -77.8  degrees
Mimimum Altitude:0  meter
Maximum Altitude:1000  meter
Maintenance:
Description:
Information about the McMurdo Dry Valley streams was obtained from the articles listed in the citations section. In addition, Michael Gooseff provided some stream descriptions to enter in the comments field and provided some clarifications for basins in which the streams are found. Data was entered into a Microsoft Access McMurdo Dry Valley stream database. Ascii, comma delimited and MS-DOS text files were exported from Access to generate the 'strmdesc.dat' and 'strmdesc.txt' data files used on the web page.
Frequency:
Contact:
Organization:McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER
Position:Data Manager
Address:
Byrd Polar Research Center ,
108 Scott Hall,
1090 Carmack Rd,
Columbus, OH 43210-1002 USA
Phone:
614-292-3229 (voice)
Email Address:
mcmlter@bprc.mps.ohio-state.edu
Publisher:
Organization:McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER
Address:
Byrd Polar Research Center ,
108 Scott Hall,
1090 Carmack Rd,
Columbus,
Columbus, OH 43210-1002 USA
Phone:
(614) 292-4697 (fax)
Methods Info:
Step 1:  
Description:
Since streams are a critical link in the trophic interactions and biogeochemical cycles of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, streams located throughout the area were chosen for the long-term study. A brief description of each of the streams was obtained from relevant literature as well as the hydrologists involved in the study. Stream reach was determined for some of these streams and varied in length from 0.3 kilometers to 40 kilometers.