Online first articles
High-frequency, spatially distributed monitoring of water temperature: the MultiTEMP system
Water temperature is a key factor influencing physical, chemical, and biological processes in aquatic ecosystems. Accurate monitoring is crucial for understanding these dynamics, their variability, and their evolution, especially in the face of global change. In-situ measurements and satellite remote sensing methods have limitations ranging from high costs and logistical constraints to restricted spatial and temporal resolutions. This study introduces the MultiTEMP system, a cost-effective and customizable tool for high-frequency, spatially distributed water temperature monitoring. Leveraging open-source Arduino technology and digital sensors, MultiTEMP enables synchronized data collection across various locations (multiple submerged points), significantly advancing the study of thermal dynamics. The system has been tested in regulated rivers affected by hydropeaking events. Field deployments have demonstrated its capability to capture detailed spatiotemporal temperature variations, which are essential for understanding the ecological impacts of artificial changes in flow regime. Overall, MultiTEMP represents a simple but valuable monitoring system, offering an affordable, flexible, and scalable approach to water temperature monitoring. Its continued development and integration into broader monitoring networks could significantly improve the environmental management of flows and the conservation of fluvial ecosystems.
