Atmospheric and Surface Water Resources An Introductory Module on Hydrometeorological Instrumentation Melanie Wetzel / Desert Research Institute Presented at the COMET Faculty Workshop on Hydrometeorology

Target Audience Freshman- and sophomore-level students majoring in meteorology, earth science, hydrology, environmental engineering Non-science majors in courses of environmental sciences, earth sciences, meteorology Community-college students interested in careers of field monitoring Field technicians and interns on-the-job Students majoring in science education Instructors

Module Objectives Introduce the primary sensors and methods used by field scientists for hydrometeorological measurements Focus on instrumentation and procedures that are easily available for field training by instructors Provide interactive questions with feedback that address numerical calculations and quantitative assessments Create applications scenarios that lead to decision-making interactions

Module development involved multiple institutions:

Structured exploration of topic areas through focus on a watershed:

Field measurement instruction promotes knowledge discovery:

Fundamentals of basin hydrology and observable processes:

Interactive questions provide feedback as in classroom or at field site:

Summary pages allow for review of major concepts:

Visualization of measurement method is paired with a calculation:

Animations enhance understanding of measurement limitations:

Intercomparison of data plots teach visual interpolation:

The need for numerically ‘calibrating’ even simple weirs is shown:

Logarithmic distribution of current speed can be verified by students:

Streamflow calculations are displayed graphically:

Diagrams can be printed and used for field training:

Animations depict specific field procedures:

Streamflow rating curve combines measurements and line-fitting:

Graphics help depict snow layers that will be seen in the field:

Practice calculations on snow density match coring procedure:

On-site system components for operational monitoring programs:

Photos depict field installation and maintenance tasks:

Utilization of data from monitoring networks:

Students compose narrative answers and receive immediate response:

Time series build knowledge of temporal trends and variability:

Analysis is made using intercomparison of coincident measurements:

“Hot” zones on graphics enhance the interactive questions:

Active buttons facilitate delivery of inter-related content:

Photos and quick calculations simulate real-life fieldwork activities:

Tabular analysis of the climatological aspects of streamflow:

Three-dimensional graphics prompt ideas on topographic effects:

Questions combine primary and auxiliary (pop-up) plot windows:

Numerical questions can use PC “Calculator” utility on-screen:

“Contents” button - review specific sections to help answer questions:

Students are given the chance to re-select answers if not correct:

Content from previous sections and multi-stage questions build decision-making and assessment capabilities:

This is one of three training modules in the series on Atmospheric Measurements and Instrumentation –Atmospheric and Surface Water Resources –Wind and Solar Energy Lab –Air Quality Monitoring and Assessment For more information on these, contact M. Wetzel