Summarizing and comparing annual stream temperature signals from mountain streams across the US

Heat has long been used as a tracer of various watershed processes, but only a few studies have explored the patterns of long-period temperature signals (eg annual) and their relation to these processes. In previous research, metrics describing annual air and water temperature patterns combined with a deterministic model were used to describe groundwater influence on stream temperatures for streams in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Here, we examine the transferability of these results and patterns to other mountain systems and climates (eg, the Pacific Northwest), and whether these signals are stable over time. Additionally, we evaluate the effects of" missing data", a common issue facing collectors of multi-year stream temperature data, on thermal process inferences. Our results indicate that, in general, groundwater influence on stream thermal regimes was slightly lower in the Shenandoah National …