TROD: Temperature Profiling Probe

Temperature measurements are routinely made for investigating ecological and hydrological processes. Temperature is a key parameter for monitoring the suitability of fisheries habitat and streambed temperature data are useful for estimating surface water and groundwater exchange. Measuring vertically nested temperatures at the streambed interface poses practical challenges. To address these challenges, we built and patented a new discrete subsurface temperature profiling probe (referred to as TROD, from temperature rod). The TROD was designed for monitoring temperature at 6 discrete temperature depths along a 3/4-inch diameter 1-m long sealed PVC pipe. The temperature sensors are secured inside a water-proof enclosure to avoid moisture damage to electronics. A heavy duty submersible communication cable allows for downloading the temperature data via USB port. The TROD is designed to be installed into stream sediment for measuring temperature in both sediment and/or surface water.

The TROD has several advantages over other methods:

1. Can continuously monitoring even in harsh environments that are susceptible to high-discharge events when damage from sheer or rapidly moving sediment or debris is likely because of the low-profile design.
2. Does not require removal or disruption for data retrieval.
3. Uses low-cost existing self-logging temperature sensors that are easily replaced and allows prolonged use the components.
4. Developed user friendly software efficient in programming and retrieval of temperature data.

A version of the TROD has been constructed for use without the communication cable for situations where visibility may expose the instrumentation to vandalism (i.e., urban streams) or where burying the cable may be impractical (i.e., dynamic lake shore environments). The sensor spacing interval and depth can be chosen to optimize observation density for a variety of applications We find the temperature probe to be an accurate and robust instrument that allows for easy installation and long-term monitoring in highly variable environments. Because the probe is inexpensive and versatile, it is useful for many applications that require temperature data collection for periods of several months in environments that are difficult to access or require minimal disturbance.

NVWSC Investigations Using the TROD