Author(s): Markus Noack; Nils Fikentscher; Pascal Pirlot
Linked Author(s): Pascal Pirlot, Markus Noack
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Low-cost, open-source SmartRocks sensors were deployed in the Partnach catchment (Bavarian Alps, Germany) to monitor temperature, pressure, conductivity, and turbidity. Pressure data, corrected for atmospheric variations, allowed continuous flow depth measurements, while temperature and conductivity showed good agreement with high-end reference sensors. Turbidity measurements were less reliable due to light and algal influences. Deployments using solid anchors demonstrated high stability, and improvements to sensor housing enhanced robustness under alpine conditions. These results highlight the potential of distributed low-cost sensors to complement conventional hydrological monitoring in mountain catchments.
Year: 2026