Specifications

TEAM Climate Monitoring Protocol 3.0

6.3.3 Enclosure Maintenance

Check the integrity of the enclosure at least monthly (preferably every two weeks). First check

the outside and make sure the enclosure is solid and there are no obvious breaches or rusting

spots developing on the external surface. If any are detected, treat immediately by sanding the

area and applying antirust paint. Look for ant or termite lines going into the enclosure and

destroy them.

Open the enclosure and check the humidity indicator. Replace the silica gel or Zorb-it™ packets

if the middle circle (labeled 40) is pink. If there are ants or other insects inside the box, there is a

breach most likely through the bottom pipe. Carefully check the pipe at the bottom of the

enclosure and make sure the putty is correctly placed to seal the entrance. Remove any debris,

insects, or structures found inside the enclosure.

Inspect the cables and terminals in the data logger and battery to make sure the connections are

not comprised. Look for rusting and salt deposits on the terminals; if any are detected, remove

the cable from the terminal, clean it with sand paper and reconnect. Check the external surface of

the cables to make sure there are no breaks or exposed wires. Repair any cables with exposed or

damaged sections by wrapping the section of the cable with vinyl/electrical tape.

6.3.4 Sensor maintenance

All the sensors used in this protocol are designed to work unattended, but some minimum

maintenance is necessary to ensure they are working correctly.

Temperature/RH sensor (Vaisala HMP45C):Once a month, remove the sensors from the

aspirated radiation shield and check for debris or deposits on the black screen at the end of the

sensor. There is no need to disconnect any cables from the data logger or the cabling box in the

aspirated radiation shield. Just remove the bottom portion of the shield and pull out the sensor

from the tube to inspect it. Refer to the manual of the sensor for other maintenance guidelines,

especially if the station is close to the ocean (salt deposits can form more quickly).

Aspirated radiation shield (MetOne): Every two weeks (or every time the station is visited)

inspect the radiation shield to make sure no animals have colonized the structure (wasps love the

shade provided by the shield). Clean the surface of the main ‘umbrella’ and the tube with a

slightly damped cloth to remove dust and dirt and keep the efficiency of the shield as high as

possible. Check that the fan is working by placing your hand (or an inexpensive portable flow

monitor, e.g. Kestrel® 1000 Pocket Wind Meter-Forestry Suppliers) at the bottom of the shield.

Slight suction should be experimented (if a flow monitor is available it should read about 5 mph

or greater - # 8 km per hour). The data logger is programmed to record the speed of the fan and

write it to the data file, so if there is any problem with the fan it should be apparent in the data

immediately. Replacement fans can be ordered from MetOne (make sure you order the fan with

the tachometer cable – part # 3558)