The objective of the meteorological measurements was to document the weather of the Lake C2 watershed at an hourly timescale. These observations were made at Lake C2 (DELTA) through the three field seasons (1990-92), and at a higher elevation site in 1991 and 1992. The second site, hereafter ECHO, was on the summit of informally named Echo Peak (hereafter Echo site), at 520 m above mean sea level (a.s.l.). The data collected from the two stations permitted a characterization of Taconite Inlet summer climate, and provide insight into the altitudinal variation of regional climate. Measurements were made in sufficient detail to determine the hourly atmospheric inputs of energy and precipitation. The data set also permits a comparison of Lake C2 weather with that at nearby weather station Alert.
An important emphasis of this study, and the Taconite Inlet Lakes Project, was to document and understand processes based on field measurements. Fieldwork was often conducted under adverse conditions, necessitating adaptation of standard procedures to fit logistical, climatic and other constraints. As will be evident from the documentation below, the field methods and equipment employed became increasingly sophisticated as the project developed. Nonetheless, consistency was maintained in terms of station location, types of sensors used at each site, and in the heights of sensors above the ground.