Data Collection Methods

Volumetric water content, and temperatures were recorded on the cratered and non-cratered landscape. Moisture and temperature readings were collected in crater bottoms, crater sides, and crater tops (figure 1). Some areas of the landscape were so disturbed that crater tops were difficult to distinguish since they were often enveloped within one another. Coordinates of each record along with notes were organized using a Trimble Nomad global positioning system (Table 1). To minimize the amount of error involved with our equipment, volumetric water content was recorded five times for each crater position and the results were averaged together. The temperature probe was inserted 15 cm into the soil and left until the temperature stopped moving.
Figure 1: Collecting volumetric water content and temperature of the soil. Readings were taken on the crater bottoms, crater sides, and crater tops. A GPS was used to record the coordinates and characteristics of each site location.



Table 1: Each soil measurement was added to a table that is easily be imported into a GIS. The notes field consisted of various qualitative observations at that site location.


Along with soil moisture and temperature, information on the landscapes surface was also collected. Using a Total Station, we recorded accurate and precise micro elevation data to produce a three dimensional model of the surface. Elevation data was imported into an excel spreadsheet to include each points X,Y, and Z coordinates (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Using a Total Station, elevation data was recorded and compiled into an Excel file to be imported into a GIS. Each point represents the location where surface data was collected and contains an elevation (Z) field.