Environmental Data
Using instruments at the Museum of the Earth and the Cayuga Nature Center, we measure a variety of environmental parameters.
Cayuga Nature Center
Weather station data
This weather station collects temperature, precipitation, wind, barometric pressure, and humidity data outside the Cayuga Nature Center. You can access the data through Weather Underground, Personal Weather Station KNYITHAC15.
Soil temperature profiles
We collect soil temperature data at three different depths at two locations at the Cayuga Nature Center, one in the forest and one in a meadow.
For access to data, contact Ingrid Zabel at zabel@priweb.org.
Carbon dioxide and air quality data
We collect CO2 and air particulate data using an Air Quality Egg sensor located outdoors at the Cayuga Nature Center. The data show daily fluctuations from photosynthesis and respiration in the forest.
For access to data, contact Ingrid Zabel at zabel@priweb.org.
Tree phenology data
We record observations of seasonal changes for five native trees at the Cayuga Nature Center, such as when buds break in the spring, when flowers bloom, and when leaves turn color in the fall. We send these observations to the U.S.A. National Phenology Network’s database, to be used by researchers and others.
Visitors can be citizen scientists and make observations that we will submit. Learn about this in the Leopold Climate Room at the Nature Center.
Stream data from the Community Science Institute
The Community Science Institute (CSI) and their volunteers monitor water quality in streams, lakes, and private wells in New York State. You can find data from the Cayuga Nature Center in CSI’s Water Quality Database.
BioBlitz data
The Cayuga Nature Center runs four seasonal bioblitzes each year, where the public in the East Finger Lakes region can help document biodiversity using an app called iNaturalist. Datasets from past bioblitzes are on PRI’s bioblitz page.
Museum of the Earth
Weather station data
This weather station collects temperature, precipitation, wind, barometric pressure, and humidity data outside the Museum of the Earth. You can access the data through Weather Underground, Personal Weather Station KNYITHAC42.
CoCoRaHS: the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network
At the Museum of the Earth we participate in a meteorology citizen science project as part of the national CoCoRAHS Network. We collect precipitation data from a rain gauge outside the Museum, filling an important data gap on the west side of Cayuga Lake. The data collected by citizen scientists are used by scientists, weather forecasters, water managers, engineers, insurance industry researchers, and others.
Other local and regional data sources
A gateway to data, maps, tools, videos, and more, including a Climate Data Grapher and an Interactive Map and GIS Viewer.
Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University
A source of data products, maps, tools, news, and more for the Northeast U.S. Data are available for Ithaca, NY on the NRCC’s Ithaca Climate Page.