Storm Event Flow Data from an Industrial Cutaway Peatland, Ireland

Description

This flow dataset was collected alongside water quality data to test the hypothesis that effluents from degraded peatland catchments exhibit high temporal variability and pose a year-round risk to surface waters. Flow was measured at high resolution (1–5-minute intervals) at the outlet of an industrial cutaway raised bog catchment in Ireland during 14 storm events of varying intensities. This dataset provides insights into flow dynamics, including the rise, peak, and recession phases of storm events, and their relationships with water quality. The storm events were classified based on peak flow, with six events having peak flows <15 L/s and eight events exceeding 30 L/s. Our findings support the hypothesis, revealing strong temporal variability in water quality between storm events, partly influenced by flow intensity. Regression models and correlation analyses identified rainfall (used as a proxy for flow) as a key driver of this variability. These data contribute to a better understanding of the hydrochemical dynamics of degraded peatland catchments and their impacts on downstream water quality.

Steps to reproduce

Flow data was collected during 14 storm events between March 2021 and March 2023 at the outlet of an industrial cutaway raised bog catchment in Ireland. An ISCO 2150 area velocity flow meter and an ISCO 730 bubbler flow module (Teledyne Technologies Inc.) were installed to monitor storm water flow following heavy rainfall. The ISCO 730 measured water level, which was used to estimate flow through a rating curve. Both instruments recorded flow data at 1–5-minute intervals.

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