Influence of riparian shade on stream thermal regime (New Forest 2010)
River temperature is a key parameter of water quality. Most bio-chemical processes and physical characteristics of a water body are functions of temperature. Aquatic organisms including fish are polikothermic and respond to the entire temperature regime; the absolute value, seasonal and diel ranges, rate of change and the timing and duration of extreme thermal events. Salmonids are cold water species with high metabolic rates and oxygen demand, they thrive in temperatures below 20oC and have an upper thermal limit of 24 - 28oC. In recent summers water temperatures in excess of 25oC have been recorded in streams across the New Forest. High water temperature is associated with low flow, reduced oxygen level and increased ammonia concentration. Fish are able to move to cooler water but the stress caused by crowding and potential exposure to diseases can led to fish deaths. The shade cast by riparian vegetation has a significant influence on river habitat quality and with climate change predicted to lead to warmer, drier summers the role of riparian shade may become important across England and Wales to protect vulnerable species from the threat of high water temperatures. Objectives (1) to monitor stream water temperature in shaded and unshaded sections of three streams in the New Forest and (2) investigate the relationship between water temperature and riparian shade levels. Additional resource: Broadmeadow, S., Jones. J.G., Langford, T.E.L., Shaw, P.J. and Nisbet, T., (2010). The influence of riparian shade on lowland stream water temperatures in Southern England and their viability for Brown Trout. River Research and Applications DOI: 10.1002/rra.1354 Jan (2010). Attribution statement: If you use this data you wish to cite Broadmeadow, S., Jones. J.G., Langford, T.E.L., Shaw, P.J. and Nisbet, T., (2010). The influence of riparian shade on lowland stream water temperatures in Southern England and their viability for Brown Trout. River Research and Applications DOI: 10.1002/rra.1354 Jan (2010).
dataset
protocol: http
name:
description: Data download
57ebd6a8-08d0-46c6-9253-547c27854df6
eng
http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/27700
environment
England
Riparian shade
Water temperature
environment
science
publication
2010-01-13
research
publication
2010-01-13
stream measurement
publication
2010-01-13
riparian zone
publication
2010-01-13
fish
publication
2010-01-13
-1.725
-1.59
50.906
50.824
2005-01-13
2010-11-24
creation
2010-11-24
publication
2016-06-08
notPlanned
Water temperature was recorded in 2 streams under 2 levels of canopy shade (shaded and open). The loggers were located at paired sites the initial upstream site was open followed downstream by a shaded section. The loggers were located at the end of stream sections that have at least 100 m of uniform shade/open canopy. To capture more spatial variability additional loggers were placed in Ober water at various locations of interest such as the confluence with small tributaries and at the confluence of the Highland water.
Open format | Comma Separated Values file (CSV)
NA
Contains Forestry Commission information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Forest Research and Southampton University must be acknowledged as the data sources and funders of the research.
Forest Research and Southampton University must be acknowledged as the data sources and funders of the research.
Forest Research and Southampton University must be acknowledged as the data sources and funders of the research.
Forestry Commission
mapping.geodata@forestry.gov.uk
description: Forestry Commission England Website
pointOfContact
Forestry Commission
mapping.geodata@forestry.gov.uk
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2024-05-08