NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES CO-OPS NWLON and Seasonal Gauging in the Great Lakes - FY14 Efforts September 16, 2014

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES Overview of Great Lakes NWLON Stations

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES

Basic Gauge Configuration Additional instrumentation not shown: CORS antenna (roof) and water temperature (5 ft. below LWD in lake or river environment)

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES Primary DCP Redundant DCP Primary Encoder Redundant Encoder Inside gauge house

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES The Sump Heat Lamp Floats Counter weight The heat lamp keeps the water from freezing during the cold winter months. The float rides the water surface and rises and falls with the water level providing an indication of the lake or river water level. The counter weight balances the movement of the float to keep the float tape on the gears of the encoder.

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES NGS geodetic benchmarks are used to validate the vertical stability of the water level network. In the Great Lakes there are be a minimum of five marks tied to each water level station. Station Benchmarks

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES Seasonal Gauging Funded through NOAA’s Coastal Storms Program Microwave Water Level sensor technology used to measure water level from June through September. Installations began May 15th and were completed May 31 st. Partners include GLERL, Superior NERRS and Old Woman Creek NERRS.

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES 9 Typical MWWL Gauge Installation

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES Old Woman Creek NERRS

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES Muskegon, MI

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES Manitowoc, WI

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES Potential Seasonal Sites for FY15  Traverse City, MI (Great Lakes Maritime Academy)  Michigan City, MI (Indiana Dunes National Park)  Sodus Bay, NY  Grand Marais, MI

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES Data Processing  Seasonal gauges are processed after the entire data set has been collected. Data is monitored in real- time.  6 minute data collected is QC’ed against neighbors for accuracy.  Hourly values are used to determine averages and max/min values.  Daily mean is average of hourly values from 01:00 through 24:00.  Monthly mean is average of all hourly values taken throughout the month.

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES Next Steps  Station Removal October  Datums computations and Hydraulic Corrector calculations.  Use data to test Hydraulic Corrector interpolation model – findings will help scope seasonal gauging effort for IGLD.  Reevaluate FY15 sites to ensure value toward Partner efforts and IGLD unknowns.

NOAA’s CENTER for OPERATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PRODUCTS and SERVICES Questions Colleen Roche, P.E. Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (301)