Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal ESSD.
Hydrometeorological and hydrological data from Baker Creek Research Watershed, Northwest Territories, Canada Release V.3
Christopher Spenceand Newell Hedstrom
Abstract. The V.3 data release from the Baker Creek Research Watershed documents hydrometeorological and hydrological conditions from 2003 to 2025. Baker Creek drains 155 km2 of subarctic Canadian Shield terrain in Treaty 11 in Canada's Northwest Territories. Half-hourly hydrometeorological data are available from the three most common landscape types, including exposed Precambrian bedrock ridges, open black spruce forest and lakes. Hydrometeorological data include radiation fluxes, precipitation, temperature, humidity, winds, barometric pressure and turbulent energy fluxes. Data from terrestrial sites include ground temperature and soil moisture. Spring maximum snowpack water equivalent, depth and density data are included. Daily streamflow data are available for six nested watersheds ranging in size from 9 to 155 km2. These data are unique in this remote region and provide communities with an opportunity to advance understanding of the hydrological response of a subarctic watershed subject to a warming trend and precipitation cycles. The data described here are available from the Federated Research Data Repository at: https://doi.org/10.20383/103.01579 (Spence and Hedstrom, 2026).
Received: 30 Jan 2026 – Discussion started: 26 Feb 2026
Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. While Copernicus Publications makes every effort to include appropriate place names, the final responsibility lies with the authors. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
Spence and Hedstrom provide a third update to data from Baker Creek in Canada's Northwest Territories. This is a remarkable sentinel site and I commend the authors for the hard work to keep this remote and hard to access site going. As the authors point out, data from this site can be used for many purposes by many people There aer few other sites with such long term data sets in a cold and rapidly changing environment. The authors highlight recent studies that have used their data, which shows considerable update. I have reviewed the manuscript data and it clear with metadata and appropriate labelling. There are a few comments that the authors may consider:
Figure 3 shows average daily net radiation. Could this figure how more of the 'variability' in the energy fluxes? So perhaps a solid line for the average and shading for some range (SD, IQR, etc) just to get an idea of the variability. The same comment for Table 3
Figure 4 is very small and difficult to read. Axes, labels, etc., should all be made much larger.Â
For Figure 5, would it be worthwhile to indicate when there were sensor issues with a shaded region. This is different than 'no data', but for example it seems 2008 had no rainfall, but obviously this was because of some instrumentation problem (which is normal). This isn't critical I suppose, but tehe same goes for the total precipitation figure. Something to consider.Â
Figure 6. I think this is volumetric liquid water technically, not total soil moisture.Â
Hydrometeorological and hydrological data from Baker Creek Research Watershed, Northwest Territories, Canada Release V.3C. Spence and N. Hedstrom https://doi.org/10.20383/103.01579
Christopher Spenceand Newell Hedstrom
Viewed
Total article views: 235 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML
PDF
XML
Total
BibTeX
EndNote
151
65
19
235
22
23
HTML: 151
PDF: 65
XML: 19
Total: 235
BibTeX: 22
EndNote: 23
Views and downloads (calculated since 26 Feb 2026)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 26 Feb 2026)
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 228 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 228 with geography defined
and 0 with unknown origin.
Hydrometeorological and hydrological data described herein were collected at the 155 km2 Baker Creek Research Watershed on Treaty 11 lands in Canada's Northwest Territories. From 2003–2025, climate data were collected over bedrock, forests, and a lake. Precipitation data includes those from spring snow surveys, and total precipitation and tipping bucket gauges. Soil temperature and moisture data are included. Daily streamflow data from a nested network of hydrometric gauges are included.
Hydrometeorological and hydrological data described herein were collected at the 155 km2 Baker...
Spence and Hedstrom provide a third update to data from Baker Creek in Canada's Northwest Territories. This is a remarkable sentinel site and I commend the authors for the hard work to keep this remote and hard to access site going. As the authors point out, data from this site can be used for many purposes by many people There aer few other sites with such long term data sets in a cold and rapidly changing environment. The authors highlight recent studies that have used their data, which shows considerable update. I have reviewed the manuscript data and it clear with metadata and appropriate labelling. There are a few comments that the authors may consider:
Figure 3 shows average daily net radiation. Could this figure how more of the 'variability' in the energy fluxes? So perhaps a solid line for the average and shading for some range (SD, IQR, etc) just to get an idea of the variability. The same comment for Table 3
Figure 4 is very small and difficult to read. Axes, labels, etc., should all be made much larger.Â
For Figure 5, would it be worthwhile to indicate when there were sensor issues with a shaded region. This is different than 'no data', but for example it seems 2008 had no rainfall, but obviously this was because of some instrumentation problem (which is normal). This isn't critical I suppose, but tehe same goes for the total precipitation figure. Something to consider.Â
Figure 6. I think this is volumetric liquid water technically, not total soil moisture.Â
Â
Â