Detecting the presence of liquid surface water will become an important factor for ecosystems in the face of climate change. Researchers have used satellites, camera traps, site visits and automatic data loggers of conductivity to detect surface water, but few have used data loggers of temperature and light intensity. UW based researchers in the Faculty of Science and Technology, Mr. Gavin Campbell (Grad Student, Department of Life Sciences, The UWI Mona) and his supervisor, Dr. Eric Heslop (Former Head, Department of Life Sciences, The UWI Mona) tested the use of temperature and light intensity data loggers in detecting the presence of water in a temporary pond. Temperature and light intensity were lower in water than in air allowing the parameters to be used successfully to detect the presence of liquid surface water. Daily temperature range, maximum temperature and variation in light intensity were the most useful in detecting the absence or presence of surface water. Combining different metrics of the temperature and light allowed for more accurate determination of the presence of water.

Reference: Campbell, Gavin R., and Eric J. Hyslop. "Technical Reports: Methods-The Application of Temperature and Light Intensity as Intermittency Sensors in a Temporary Pond." Water Resources Research 59, no. 2 (2023): e2021WR031574. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2021WR031574

Photo Caption (L-R): Gavin Campbell (Grad Student) and Eric Hyslop (Former Head) from the Department of Life Sciences, The UWI Mona.

Follow the Faculty of Science and Technology on Instagram @uwimona_fst and on Facebook at @ The Faculty of Science and Technology, The UWI Mona. For enquiries, WhatsApp us at 1-876 552-4691, call us at 1-876-977-1785 or email us at fst@uwimona.edu.jm.