Soil Temperature Depths
When AZMET began operations in 1987, two soil temperature sensors were used on each station.
These sensors were installed at depths of 5cm (2 inches) and 10cm (4 inches).
Originally, these depths were chosen to monitor the soil for temperatures
needed to germinate seeds and support seedling growth.
However, after reviewing the soil temperature data, we felt that there was not enough
difference between the depths and that the 5cm (2 inch) position was too shallow
causing it to reflect the air temperature.
Moving the sensors deeper could provide a better profile of the soil's heat capacity.
It was determined that optimal depths would be 10cm (4 inches)
and 50cm (20 inches).
In 1996, we moved the location of the Bonita station and took the opportunity
to reposition the soil temperature sensors to these new depths.
Then, in 1999, we changed the depths at all the other stations.
The soil temperatures at all stations are now being monitored
at 10cm (4 inches) and 50cm (20 inches).
The dates and times of the depth adjustment are :
| # |
Station |
DOY |
Date |
Time24 |
Time12 |
| 9 |
Bonita |
330 |
Nov 25
1996 -!
| 18:00 | 6:00 pm |
| | | | |
| 01 | Tucson | 138 | May 18 1999 | 14:00 | 2:00 pm |
| 16 | Eloy | 181 | June 30 1999 | 13:00 | 1:00 pm |
| 05 | Coolidge * | 181 | June 30 1999 | 18:00 | 6:00 pm |
| 22 | Queen Creek | 182 | July 1 1999 | 15:00 | 3:00 pm |
| 04 | Safford | 189 | July 8 1999 | 15:00 | 3:00 pm |
| 02 | Yuma Valley | 212 | July 31 1999 | 13:00 | 1:00 pm |
| 14 | Yuma N. Gila * | 213 | Aug 1 1999 | 13:00 | 1:00 pm |
| 03 | Yuma Mesa | 213 | Aug 1 1999 | 19:00 | 7:00 pm |
| 20 | Mohave | 214 | Aug 2 1999 | 10:00 | 10:00 am |
| 08 | Parker | 214 | Aug 2 1999 | 13:00 | 1:00 pm |
| 11 | Litchfield | 217 | Aug 5 1999 | 17:00 | 5:00 pm |
| 21 | Laveen | 218 | Aug 6 1999 | 13:00 | 1:00 pm |
| 26 | Buckeye | 244 | Sept 1 1999 | 13:00 | 1:00 pm |
| 23 | Harquahala | 245 | Sept 2 1999 | 13:00 | 1:00 pm |
| 13 | Marana | 278 | Oct 5 1999 | 16:00 | 4:00 pm |
| 07 | Aguila | 279 | Oct 6 1999 | 17:00 | 5:00 pm |
| 24 | Roll | 286 | Oct 13 1999 | 19:00 | 7:00 pm |
| 19 | Paloma | 301 | Oct 28 1999 | 11:00 | 11:00 am |
| 06 | Maricopa | 313 | Nov 9 1999 | 13:00 | 1:00 pm |
| 15 | Phoenix Encanto | 314 | Nov 10 1999 | 13:00 | 1:00 pm |
| 12 | Phoenix Greenway | 314 | Nov 10 1999 | 17:00 | 5:00 pm |
| 10 | Waddell | 315 | Nov 11 1999 | 13:00 | 1:00 pm |
* The soil temperature sensors went bad at two stations :
Yuma North Gila -
The 50cm sensor failed on Sunday Aug 1 1999 at 12:00 (noon).
This problem was fixed on Thurs Sept 23, 1999.
Coolidge -
The 50cm sensor failed on Sunday Aug 8 1999 at 7:00am.
This problem was fixed on Tues Sept 28, 1999.