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David M Sumner, PhD

Center Director at USGS Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center

Science and Products

Image: Sheltering Caribbean Headland

Advancing Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for High Elevation and Endangered Lowland Coquí Frogs in the U.S. Caribbean

Amphibians in the US Caribbean, like the well-known coquí frog, are particularly vulnerable to human-caused climate change. Coquí frogs are represented by 17 species across Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands and include several mountainous and coastal species that are threatened by extreme heat and drying, loss of coastal freshwater marshes through saltwater intrusion, or both. Over the...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Advancing Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for High Elevation and Endangered Lowland Coquí Frogs in the U.S. Caribbean

Advancing Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for High Elevation and Endangered Lowland Coquí Frogs in the U.S. Caribbean

Amphibians in the US Caribbean, like the well-known coquí frog, are particularly vulnerable to human-caused climate change. Coquí frogs are represented by 17 species across Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands and include several mountainous and coastal species that are threatened by extreme heat and drying, loss of coastal freshwater marshes through saltwater intrusion, or both. Over the past decade
Learn More

Evaporation at Reedy Lake, daily data, Orange County, Florida, November 28,2001 - December 16, 2019 Evaporation at Reedy Lake, daily data, Orange County, Florida, November 28,2001 - December 16, 2019

The data consists of daily evaporation measurements/estimates for the time period November 28, 2001 to December 16, 2019. These data are derived from Bowen ratio energy budget computations of actual evaporation based on meteorological and water temperature data at the USGS Reedy Lake evaporation station (USGS station number 282458081364800). This station is located near the center of a...
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Evapotranspiration (ET) at Tiger Bay State Forest site, Volusia County, Florida, January 1, 1998 - December 31, 1999 Evapotranspiration (ET) at Tiger Bay State Forest site, Volusia County, Florida, January 1, 1998 - December 31, 1999

This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release consists of daily evapotranspiration (ET) measurements/estimates for the time period January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1999. These data are derived from measurements of actual ET conducted at a height of 36.5 meters on a communications-type tower in Tiger Bay State Forest. The station is located at a nearly flat site (29 degrees 8 minutes 15...
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Evapotranspiration (ET) at University of Central Florida urban site, daily data, Orange County, Florida, January 29, 2009 - September 27, 2012 Evapotranspiration (ET) at University of Central Florida urban site, daily data, Orange County, Florida, January 29, 2009 - September 27, 2012

This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release consists of daily evapotranspiration (ET) measurements/estimates for the time period January 29, 2009 to September 27, 2012. These data are derived from measurements of actual ET conducted at a height of 73 meters on the University of Central Florida WUCF 89.9 radio tower. The station is located at a nearly flat site (28 degrees 35 minutes...
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Evapotranspiration (ET) at Lake Wales Ridge site, 20-minute data, Orange County, Florida, September 15, 1993 - August 27, 1994 Evapotranspiration (ET) at Lake Wales Ridge site, 20-minute data, Orange County, Florida, September 15, 1993 - August 27, 1994

This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release consists of 20-minute evapotranspiration (ET) measurements/estimates for the time period September 15, 1993 to August 27, 1994. These data are derived from measurements of actual ET conducted at a site within the Lake Wales Ridge, Florida characterized by sandy, rapidly-drained soils, and hilly topography. The station is located at a site...
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Evapotranspiration (ET) at Blue Cypress marsh site, daily data, Indian River County, Florida, June 1, 1995 October 20, 2014 Evapotranspiration (ET) at Blue Cypress marsh site, daily data, Indian River County, Florida, June 1, 1995 October 20, 2014

The data set consists of evapotranspiration (ET) measurements/estimates based on data collected at the USGS Blue Cypress marsh station 274143080424100 beginning June 1, 1995 and ending October 20, 2014. The station is located at a nearly flat wetlands site (27o 41 43 N 80o 42 41 W) within the Blue Cypress Marsh Conservation Area, Indian River County, Florida. The dominant plant cover at...
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)
Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.
Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.
Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.
Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve, FL.

By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC), Geology and Ecology of National Parks
Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve, FL.

By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC), Geology and Ecology of National Parks

A simple method for partitioning total solar radiation into diffuse/direct components in the United States A simple method for partitioning total solar radiation into diffuse/direct components in the United States

Solar radiation is a major sustainable and clean energy resource, and use of solar radiation is expected to increase. The utilization efficiency of solar energy varies with the relative proportions of the direct and diffuse components that compose total solar radiation and with the slope and aspect of the irradiated surface. The purpose of this paper is to develop a simple method for...
Authors
Jingjing Fan, Qiang Huang, David Sumner, Dingbao Wang
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Estimating belowground carbon stocks in isolated wetlands of the Northern Everglades Watershed, central Florida, using ground penetrating radar (GPR) and aerial imagery Estimating belowground carbon stocks in isolated wetlands of the Northern Everglades Watershed, central Florida, using ground penetrating radar (GPR) and aerial imagery

Peat soils store a large fraction of the global soil carbon (C) pool and comprise 95% of wetland C stocks. While isolated freshwater wetlands in temperate and tropical biomes account for more than 20% of the global peatland C stock, most studies of wetland soil C have occurred in expansive peatlands in northern boreal and subarctic biomes. Furthermore, the contribution of small...
Authors
Matthew McClellan, Xavier Comas, Ross Hinkle, David Sumner
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Use of eddy-covariance methods to "calibrate" simple estimators of evapotranspiration Use of eddy-covariance methods to "calibrate" simple estimators of evapotranspiration

Direct measurement of actual evapotranspiration (ET) provides quantification of this large component of the hydrologic budget, but typically requires long periods of record and large instrumentation and labor costs. Simple surrogate methods of estimating ET, if “calibrated” to direct measurements of ET, provide a reliable means to quantify ET. Eddy-covariance measurements of ET were...
Authors
David Sumner, Jeffrey Geurink, Amy Swancar
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

A comparison of models for estimating potential evapotranspiration for Florida land cover types A comparison of models for estimating potential evapotranspiration for Florida land cover types

We analyzed observed daily evapotranspiration (DET) at 18 sites having measured DET and ancillary climate data and then used these data to compare the performance of three common methods for estimating potential evapotranspiration (PET): the Turc method (Tc), the Priestley-Taylor method (PT) and the Penman-Monteith method (PM). The sites were distributed throughout the State of Florida...
Authors
Ellen Douglas, Jennifer Jacobs, David Sumner, Ram Ray
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Harmonizing multiple methods for reconstructing historical potential and reference evapotranspiration Harmonizing multiple methods for reconstructing historical potential and reference evapotranspiration

Potential evapotranspiration (PET) and reference evapotranspiration (RET) data are usually critical components of hydrologic analysis. Many different equations are available to estimate PET and RET. Most of these equations, such as the Priestley-Taylor and Penman- Monteith methods, rely on detailed meteorological data collected at ground-based weather stations. Few weather stations...
Authors
Getachew Belaineh, David Sumner, Edward Carter, David Clapp
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Measurement and simulation of evapotranspiration at a wetland site in the New Jersey Pinelands Measurement and simulation of evapotranspiration at a wetland site in the New Jersey Pinelands

Evapotranspiration (ET) was monitored above a wetland forest canopy dominated by pitch-pine in the New Jersey Pinelands during November 10, 2004-February 20, 2007, using an eddy-covariance method. Twelve-month ET totals ranged from 786 to 821 millimeters (mm). Minimum and maximum ET rates occurred during December-February and in July, respectively. Relations between ET and several...
Authors
David Sumner, Robert Nicholson, Kenneth L. Clark
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center

Variability of albedo and utility of the MODIS albedo product in forested wetlands Variability of albedo and utility of the MODIS albedo product in forested wetlands

Albedo was monitored over a two-year period (beginning April 2008) at three forested wetland sites in Florida, USA using up- and down-ward facing pyranometers. Water level, above and below land surface, is the primary control on the temporal variability of daily albedo. Relatively low reflectivity of water accounts for the observed reductions in albedo with increased inundation of the...
Authors
David Sumner, Qinglong Wu, Chandra Pathak
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Calibration of GOES-derived solar radiation data using a distributed network of surface measurements in Florida, USA Calibration of GOES-derived solar radiation data using a distributed network of surface measurements in Florida, USA

Solar radiation data are critically important for the estimation of evapotranspiration. Analysis of visible-channel data derived from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) using radiative transfer modeling has been used to produce spatially- and temporally-distributed datasets of solar radiation. An extensive network of (pyranometer) surface measurements of solar...
Authors
David Sumner, Chandra Pathak, John Mecikalski, Simon Paech, Qinglong Wu, Taiye Sangoyomi
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Estimating changes in heat energy stored within a column of wetland surface water and factors controlling their importance in the surface energy budget Estimating changes in heat energy stored within a column of wetland surface water and factors controlling their importance in the surface energy budget

Changes in heat energy stored within a column of wetland surface water can be a considerable component of the surface energy budget, an attribute that is demonstrated by comparing changes in stored heat energy to net radiation at seven sites in the wetland areas of southern Florida, including the Everglades. The magnitude of changes in stored heat energy approached the magnitude of net...
Authors
W. Barclay Shoemaker, David Sumner, Adrian Castillo

Water-level maps of the alluvial aquifer, Northwestern Mississippi, April 1983 Water-level maps of the alluvial aquifer, Northwestern Mississippi, April 1983

Water levels were measured in about 500 wells in the Mississippi River valley alluvial aquifer in northwestern Mississippi during April 1983. Ground-water levels have declined in some areas in recent years as a result of heavy irrigation pumpage from this aquifer. Near the areas of principal recharge, along the major rivers, and near the Bluff Hills, ground-water levels appear to be...
Authors
David Sumner

Science and Products

Image: Sheltering Caribbean Headland

Advancing Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for High Elevation and Endangered Lowland Coquí Frogs in the U.S. Caribbean

Amphibians in the US Caribbean, like the well-known coquí frog, are particularly vulnerable to human-caused climate change. Coquí frogs are represented by 17 species across Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands and include several mountainous and coastal species that are threatened by extreme heat and drying, loss of coastal freshwater marshes through saltwater intrusion, or both. Over the...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Advancing Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for High Elevation and Endangered Lowland Coquí Frogs in the U.S. Caribbean

Advancing Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for High Elevation and Endangered Lowland Coquí Frogs in the U.S. Caribbean

Amphibians in the US Caribbean, like the well-known coquí frog, are particularly vulnerable to human-caused climate change. Coquí frogs are represented by 17 species across Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands and include several mountainous and coastal species that are threatened by extreme heat and drying, loss of coastal freshwater marshes through saltwater intrusion, or both. Over the past decade
Learn More

Evaporation at Reedy Lake, daily data, Orange County, Florida, November 28,2001 - December 16, 2019 Evaporation at Reedy Lake, daily data, Orange County, Florida, November 28,2001 - December 16, 2019

The data consists of daily evaporation measurements/estimates for the time period November 28, 2001 to December 16, 2019. These data are derived from Bowen ratio energy budget computations of actual evaporation based on meteorological and water temperature data at the USGS Reedy Lake evaporation station (USGS station number 282458081364800). This station is located near the center of a...
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Evapotranspiration (ET) at Tiger Bay State Forest site, Volusia County, Florida, January 1, 1998 - December 31, 1999 Evapotranspiration (ET) at Tiger Bay State Forest site, Volusia County, Florida, January 1, 1998 - December 31, 1999

This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release consists of daily evapotranspiration (ET) measurements/estimates for the time period January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1999. These data are derived from measurements of actual ET conducted at a height of 36.5 meters on a communications-type tower in Tiger Bay State Forest. The station is located at a nearly flat site (29 degrees 8 minutes 15...
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Evapotranspiration (ET) at University of Central Florida urban site, daily data, Orange County, Florida, January 29, 2009 - September 27, 2012 Evapotranspiration (ET) at University of Central Florida urban site, daily data, Orange County, Florida, January 29, 2009 - September 27, 2012

This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release consists of daily evapotranspiration (ET) measurements/estimates for the time period January 29, 2009 to September 27, 2012. These data are derived from measurements of actual ET conducted at a height of 73 meters on the University of Central Florida WUCF 89.9 radio tower. The station is located at a nearly flat site (28 degrees 35 minutes...
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Evapotranspiration (ET) at Lake Wales Ridge site, 20-minute data, Orange County, Florida, September 15, 1993 - August 27, 1994 Evapotranspiration (ET) at Lake Wales Ridge site, 20-minute data, Orange County, Florida, September 15, 1993 - August 27, 1994

This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release consists of 20-minute evapotranspiration (ET) measurements/estimates for the time period September 15, 1993 to August 27, 1994. These data are derived from measurements of actual ET conducted at a site within the Lake Wales Ridge, Florida characterized by sandy, rapidly-drained soils, and hilly topography. The station is located at a site...
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Evapotranspiration (ET) at Blue Cypress marsh site, daily data, Indian River County, Florida, June 1, 1995 October 20, 2014 Evapotranspiration (ET) at Blue Cypress marsh site, daily data, Indian River County, Florida, June 1, 1995 October 20, 2014

The data set consists of evapotranspiration (ET) measurements/estimates based on data collected at the USGS Blue Cypress marsh station 274143080424100 beginning June 1, 1995 and ending October 20, 2014. The station is located at a nearly flat wetlands site (27o 41 43 N 80o 42 41 W) within the Blue Cypress Marsh Conservation Area, Indian River County, Florida. The dominant plant cover at...
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)
Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.
Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.
Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.
Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve, FL.

By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC), Geology and Ecology of National Parks
Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve.

Eddy covariance evapotranspiration station. Tower deployment at Big Cypress National Preserve, FL.

By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC), Geology and Ecology of National Parks

A simple method for partitioning total solar radiation into diffuse/direct components in the United States A simple method for partitioning total solar radiation into diffuse/direct components in the United States

Solar radiation is a major sustainable and clean energy resource, and use of solar radiation is expected to increase. The utilization efficiency of solar energy varies with the relative proportions of the direct and diffuse components that compose total solar radiation and with the slope and aspect of the irradiated surface. The purpose of this paper is to develop a simple method for...
Authors
Jingjing Fan, Qiang Huang, David Sumner, Dingbao Wang
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Estimating belowground carbon stocks in isolated wetlands of the Northern Everglades Watershed, central Florida, using ground penetrating radar (GPR) and aerial imagery Estimating belowground carbon stocks in isolated wetlands of the Northern Everglades Watershed, central Florida, using ground penetrating radar (GPR) and aerial imagery

Peat soils store a large fraction of the global soil carbon (C) pool and comprise 95% of wetland C stocks. While isolated freshwater wetlands in temperate and tropical biomes account for more than 20% of the global peatland C stock, most studies of wetland soil C have occurred in expansive peatlands in northern boreal and subarctic biomes. Furthermore, the contribution of small...
Authors
Matthew McClellan, Xavier Comas, Ross Hinkle, David Sumner
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Use of eddy-covariance methods to "calibrate" simple estimators of evapotranspiration Use of eddy-covariance methods to "calibrate" simple estimators of evapotranspiration

Direct measurement of actual evapotranspiration (ET) provides quantification of this large component of the hydrologic budget, but typically requires long periods of record and large instrumentation and labor costs. Simple surrogate methods of estimating ET, if “calibrated” to direct measurements of ET, provide a reliable means to quantify ET. Eddy-covariance measurements of ET were...
Authors
David Sumner, Jeffrey Geurink, Amy Swancar
By
Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

A comparison of models for estimating potential evapotranspiration for Florida land cover types A comparison of models for estimating potential evapotranspiration for Florida land cover types

We analyzed observed daily evapotranspiration (DET) at 18 sites having measured DET and ancillary climate data and then used these data to compare the performance of three common methods for estimating potential evapotranspiration (PET): the Turc method (Tc), the Priestley-Taylor method (PT) and the Penman-Monteith method (PM). The sites were distributed throughout the State of Florida...
Authors
Ellen Douglas, Jennifer Jacobs, David Sumner, Ram Ray
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Harmonizing multiple methods for reconstructing historical potential and reference evapotranspiration Harmonizing multiple methods for reconstructing historical potential and reference evapotranspiration

Potential evapotranspiration (PET) and reference evapotranspiration (RET) data are usually critical components of hydrologic analysis. Many different equations are available to estimate PET and RET. Most of these equations, such as the Priestley-Taylor and Penman- Monteith methods, rely on detailed meteorological data collected at ground-based weather stations. Few weather stations...
Authors
Getachew Belaineh, David Sumner, Edward Carter, David Clapp
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center (CFWSC)

Measurement and simulation of evapotranspiration at a wetland site in the New Jersey Pinelands Measurement and simulation of evapotranspiration at a wetland site in the New Jersey Pinelands

Evapotranspiration (ET) was monitored above a wetland forest canopy dominated by pitch-pine in the New Jersey Pinelands during November 10, 2004-February 20, 2007, using an eddy-covariance method. Twelve-month ET totals ranged from 786 to 821 millimeters (mm). Minimum and maximum ET rates occurred during December-February and in July, respectively. Relations between ET and several...
Authors
David Sumner, Robert Nicholson, Kenneth L. Clark
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New Jersey Water Science Center

Variability of albedo and utility of the MODIS albedo product in forested wetlands Variability of albedo and utility of the MODIS albedo product in forested wetlands

Albedo was monitored over a two-year period (beginning April 2008) at three forested wetland sites in Florida, USA using up- and down-ward facing pyranometers. Water level, above and below land surface, is the primary control on the temporal variability of daily albedo. Relatively low reflectivity of water accounts for the observed reductions in albedo with increased inundation of the...
Authors
David Sumner, Qinglong Wu, Chandra Pathak
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Calibration of GOES-derived solar radiation data using a distributed network of surface measurements in Florida, USA Calibration of GOES-derived solar radiation data using a distributed network of surface measurements in Florida, USA

Solar radiation data are critically important for the estimation of evapotranspiration. Analysis of visible-channel data derived from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) using radiative transfer modeling has been used to produce spatially- and temporally-distributed datasets of solar radiation. An extensive network of (pyranometer) surface measurements of solar...
Authors
David Sumner, Chandra Pathak, John Mecikalski, Simon Paech, Qinglong Wu, Taiye Sangoyomi
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Estimating changes in heat energy stored within a column of wetland surface water and factors controlling their importance in the surface energy budget Estimating changes in heat energy stored within a column of wetland surface water and factors controlling their importance in the surface energy budget

Changes in heat energy stored within a column of wetland surface water can be a considerable component of the surface energy budget, an attribute that is demonstrated by comparing changes in stored heat energy to net radiation at seven sites in the wetland areas of southern Florida, including the Everglades. The magnitude of changes in stored heat energy approached the magnitude of net...
Authors
W. Barclay Shoemaker, David Sumner, Adrian Castillo

Water-level maps of the alluvial aquifer, Northwestern Mississippi, April 1983 Water-level maps of the alluvial aquifer, Northwestern Mississippi, April 1983

Water levels were measured in about 500 wells in the Mississippi River valley alluvial aquifer in northwestern Mississippi during April 1983. Ground-water levels have declined in some areas in recent years as a result of heavy irrigation pumpage from this aquifer. Near the areas of principal recharge, along the major rivers, and near the Bluff Hills, ground-water levels appear to be...
Authors
David Sumner
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