This stream temperature modeling and monitoring approach uses thermograph data and predictor variables obtained from climatologic stations, remotely sensed riparian vegetation, and DEMs. Spatial statistical models that account for network topology are used to predict stream temperature attributes with good success (R2 ~ 0.90).
Methods and Metadata - Methods and processing steps used in this study. Freeware software for fitting spatial statistical stream network models like those used in this study is available at the SSN & STARS website.
Maps - Includes various maps of the Boise River Basin.
Isaak, Daniel J.; Luce, Charles H.; Rieman, Bruce E.; Nagel, David E.; Peterson, Erin E.; Horan, Dona L.; Parkes, Sharon; Chandler, Gwynne L. 2010. Effects of climate change and wildfire on stream temperatures and salmonid thermal habitat in a mountain river network. Ecological Applications. 20(5): 1350-1371.
Science Briefing Paper - Stream thermal regimes are important within regulatory contexts and strongly affect aquatic ecosystems. Numerous approaches have been developed for modeling stream temperatures, but broad application of these models to USFS lands has been constrained by data limitations and poor predictive ability. RMRS scientists have developed an approach to modeling stream temperatures that requires a minimum of field effort by using existing temperature records in combination with GIS and remote sensing technologies. The approach is being applied in a central Idaho watershed to map thermal habitat networks for native fish species, but could also be used to forecast future habitat distributions, improve understanding of factors affecting stream temperatures, determine compliance with water quality standards, or optimize temperature sampling strategies.
Posters & Presentations:
AGU Poster 2010(large pdf) - Massive Air and Stream Temperature Sensor Networks for Studying Microclimatic Variation In Mountain Landscapes.
AGU Presentation (2009) - Predicting Stream Temperatures Using a Spatial Statistical Model
for Stream Networks.
AGU Poster and Abstract (December 2009) - Application of Spatial Statistical Stream Models to Downscale Effects of Climate Change on River Network Temperatures.