Cathedral Peak Projects

A key collaboration

A key collaboration associated with the streamflow and weather observation is a joint UKZN-EKZNW-SAEON-WRC funded projected entitled “Establishment of a more robust observation network to improve understanding of global change in the sensitive and critical water supply area of the Drakensberg (K5: 2236). This project is being led by Dr Michele Warburton of the Centre for Water Resources Research at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The aims of this project are: 1) Compile a database of relevant historic data collected over the past 50 years from the Cathedral Peak research catchments. 2) Infill and extend the historical rainfall and streamflow record of the Cathedral Peak research catchments to the present. 3) Develop a hydrological monitoring plan which is compatible with the historic Cathedral Peak research catchments network and relevant for future climate change monitoring and transferable to other catchments. 4) Determine whether any changes in hydrological response are already evident, and to understand the underlying causes. 5) Improve our understanding of rainfall distribution across the escarpment. 6) Develop the Cathedral Peak research catchments into a living laboratory for undergraduate and postgraduate student training as well as for technical skills transfer and knowledge building.

Meteorological stations

Two meteorological stations were established in the Cathedral Peak research area by the Department of Forestry. A lower station (1368 m a.s.l.) near the current management offices and the Mike’s pass station on top of the little berg (1860m a.s.l.). The Mike’s Pass station began recording in 1948 and was maintained until 1993 by the Department of Forestry, later the CSIR. The lower station and Mike’s pass station began recording weather data again in August 2012. SAEON staff worked together with experts from University of KwaZulu Natal, Center for water Resources Research, Dr Alistar Cluclow, and Cobus Pretorius to re-establish this historic meterological station. A large part of all the data associated work has been compiling historical records. The historical records have to be traced then “translated” from antiquated digital formats and hard copies and secured in SAEON database systems. This process is lengthily as records have to be meticulously checked and vetted before being published. The SAEON Fynbos node with it’s corresponding Jonker’s Hoek observation platform has been assisting the collation of the historic Cathedral Peak data.

Rainfall

In addition to the rain gauges at the meteorological stations, there were 54 gauges located throughout the research catchments at the hub of research activities in the 20th century. In the last two years a number of gauges have been redeployed at historical sites to ensure that historic data is comparable to recently collected data. The original gauges are also being calibrated with newer automatic gauges so that newer technology can be incorporated into the research platform (this work is being done by a joint effort from SAEON GFW & Fynbos Nodes & the UKZN hydrology department). Given the importance of Cathedral Peak for freshwater supply, Feroza Morris (UKZN) is working with SAEON on “Improving the understanding of the spatial rainfall” in the catchments.” This project requires an altitudinal array of gauges linked to historic gauge sites, that range from 1837m to 2280m a.s.l.. Feroza, with funding from ACCESS via UKZN CWRR, has added to the SAEON rainfall array by extended rain gauge array to additional historic sites and adding some additional rain gauges required to help understanding of the spatial distribution of rainfall with respect to slope and aspect (see map below). Once her project is completed, SAEON will continue with the maintenance and data management from these additional rain stations to build on historic data record.

Streamflow

Streamflow has been recorded from 1948 in most of the research catchments. From the 1990’s there was a break in the stream flow recordings in the catchments. SAEON took the initiative in February 2012 to clean out selected weirs (4,5,6,&7), with funding from the DEA Expanded publics works program working for water program, and started the process of for reinstating stream flow recording in these weirs. In May 2013, streamflow recording was restarted for the first time in 23 years, using OTT pressure loggers, in Catchments IV to VII Of the fifteen research catchments, the next catchments in which we plan to redeploy loggers are catchments III and IX.

Carbon, Water & Energy

 

Vegetation Dynamics – the Tomlinson Project