Paired stream - air temperature observations reveal spatial and seasonal dynamics in montane streams
Collocated observations of stream and air temperatures can be used to understand the hydrology of streams. Different water sources, especially groundwater, have been shown to impart distinct patterns on stream temperatures relative to local air temperature that can be used to investigate spatial and temporal variability in groundwater inputs to streams. In this talk, I will present new paired stream - air temperature observations collected in Rocky Mountain National Park throughout 2024 and 2025 and explore how patterns in stream - air temperature metrics may relate to differences in hydrology from stream to stream and through time. I will also compare observed air temperatures to reanalysis (modeled / interpolated) air temperatures to assess how much the use of observed air temperatures improves the accuracy and changes the interpretations of stream - air temperature metrics.