WCPS

The U.S. DOE Water Cycle Pilot Study (WCPS) is a 3-year feasibility investigation focused on accurately evaluating the water cycle components and using stable isotopes as an effective tool in doing so. The study area is primarily the Whitewater subbasin in the Walnut River Watershed in southeastern Kansas. Two intensive observations periods are planned, this first one in April to June 2002 and a second currently scheduled for December 2002 to February 2003. Observations will be made of precipitation with rain gauges and analysis of Nexrad data; evaporation by two eddy covariance systems and an energy balance Bowen station supplemented by inferences based on satellite remote sensing data; soil moisture content profiles at several locations; stream flow at a few locations; and well-water table depth (head) at several locations, all within the Whitewater subbasin. Water samples from sources in the air, surface, and subsurface will be gathered for analysis of stable isotopes. Nested mesoscale meteorological models will be applied, coupled with high-resolution subsurface hydrological models.

Timeline

Campaign Data Sets