AKTEMP: Presenting a Fully Functional stream and Lake Temperature Database for Alaska

Authors: Shaftel, Rebecca, University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Alaska Center for Conservation Science (ACCS); Merrigan, Dustin, UAA-ACCS; Geist, Marcus, UAA-ACCS; Walker, Jeff, Walker Environmental Research

Video Presentation

Abstract

AKTEMP is a cloud-based database platform for storing and accessing stream and lake temperature monitoring data across Alaska. The website allows users to upload, review, explore, and download data. Data can be uploaded either as a single file or as multiple files, which can be uploaded simultaneously as a single batch. Each data file can contain either discrete or continuous measurements collected at one or more sites as well as at one or more depths or depth categories to accommodate lake arrays, paired bottom/surface stream loggers, or other multi-depth scenarios. After uploading, an interactive QA/QC tool can be used to review and flag data representing erroneous or abnormal measurements (e.g., out of water). Users can explore available data at all sites statewide or within specific hydrologic basins (i.e. HUC4, 6, or 8) using spatial filters. Additionally, users can download both the raw and daily-aggregated timeseries at one or more sites along with the accompanying station metadata. The project team has developed instructional videos, decision tree flowcharts, and a user guide to aid data providers and public users. The system architecture for AKTEMP was based on the Spatial Hydro-Ecological Decision System (SHEDS) northeast stream temperature database, which was developed by Walker Environmental Research in collaboration with USGS and currently serves over 150 million measurements collected at approx. 8,400 monitoring stations by 92 agencies across ten northeastern US states.

AKTEMP was released in early 2023 and currently serves stream and lake data in more than twenty different Alaskan sub-basins (HUC8s). Use of AKTEMP is free and open and will continue to be supported by staff at UAA's Alaska Center for Conservation Science. We invite the community to take advantage of this database by uploading your own data, and/or exploring data uploaded by others to meet your needs.

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