Research · Data & Publications

Data & publications

Long-term datasets, live sensors, a climate record since 1961, and the papers, theses and books that have come out of the Station.

8 datasets & databases281 publications since 2000Open by policy

Datasets64 years of rain

01 · Data

Datasets & databases

As a research laboratory and a repository for southern Appalachian biodiversity, HBS supports open, collaborative science. Researchers here follow our Data Management Policy, which includes sharing data in a timely, accessible way.

LiveNear-real-time environmental sensorsA Campbell Scientific weather station, soil moisture monitors and a YSI EXO3 water-quality sonde on campus.View live graphs ↗
2005–2022Aquatic fauna: Peeks Creek & reference streamsElectrofishing surveys of fish and crayfish after the 2004 Peeks Creek debris flow (2005–2014, 2019, 2022).EDI data package ↗
Since 2020MAPS bird bandingBreeding-season demographics with the Blue Ridge Bird Observatory. Annual summaries online; full data by request (dkaschube@birdpop.org).Annual summaries ↗
Since 2020Stream temperature, upper Little Tennessee & ChattoogaNine headwater streams, tracking how riparian change and climate affect aquatic environments.EDI data package ↗
2007 · 2022 · 2023Red spruce in Alarka Laurel & Rich Mountain bogsBaseline health, recruitment and stand structure of Picea rubens in Nantahala National Forest bogs.View dataset ↗
LiveAir quality (PM2.5)A PurpleAir sensor outside the Coker Laboratory, with Clean Air Carolina.Live map ↗
1880s–todayHBS Herbarium specimensAbout 3,000 digitized specimens in SERNEC.Search SERNEC ↗
Since 1961Highlands climate recordWeather data since HBS became the town’s official U.S. Weather Bureau station.Monthly precipitation (CSV) ↗

Also: annual high temperatures · annual low temperatures · Data Management Policy

02 · The climate record

Sixty-four years of rain

HBS has kept Highlands’ official weather record since 1961. Pick any year to see how wet it was, month by month, against the long-term average.

2024

108.28 inches

21.63 in above the 86.65-inch average · 7th wettest of 64 years

0 in40 in80 in120 in1961: 89.97 in1962: 77.12 in1963: 75.80 in1964: 112.46 in1965: 74.95 in1966: 79.98 in1967: 99.57 in1968: 77.72 in1969: 94.55 in1970: 78.84 in1971: 85.72 in1972: 92.40 in1973: 102.45 in1974: 90.19 in1975: 99.65 in1976: 96.31 in1977: 93.44 in1978: 67.99 in1979: 115.62 in1980: 70.21 in1981: 64.15 in1982: 96.70 in1983: 96.45 in1984: 84.74 in1985: 74.26 in1986: 68.76 in1987: 74.97 in1988: 67.27 in1989: 108.50 in1990: 97.09 in1991: 102.25 in1992: 106.23 in1993: 71.27 in1994: 101.12 in1995: 97.58 in1996: 92.03 in1997: 86.75 in1998: 91.32 in1999: 81.61 in2000: 60.10 in2001: 59.86 in2002: 81.48 in2003: 105.68 in2004: 104.80 in2005: 86.02 in2006: 68.19 in2007: 58.79 in2008: 65.66 in2009: 97.38 in2010: 77.56 in2011: 67.34 in2012: 82.09 in2013: 111.57 in2014: 67.13 in2015: 75.28 in2016: 46.41 in2017: 62.42 in2018: 101.58 in2019: 109.01 in2020: 137.33 in2021: 100.10 in2022: 102.97 in2023: 70.73 in2024: 108.28 inAverage 86.65 inWettest: 2020Driest: 2016197019801990200020102020
Each bar is one year of rain at the Station. Hover, tap or use the arrow keys to read a year.

Month by month in 2024 Line = average for that month

010203017.39Jan5.33Feb9.91Mar6.31Apr9.80May3.54Jun8.82Jul2.93Aug24.15Sep0.12Oct6.67Nov13.31Dec

Source: HBS monthly precipitation since 1961 (CSV). Some months are filled from NOAA’s Highlands station record (USC00314055); the file notes which.

03 · Publications

What the Station has published

Scientific papers, reports and books from research at HBS, 2000–2025, with links where available.

Publications record (PDF)Theses & dissertations ↗
281Papers, reports & books, 2000–2025
1961Start of the climate record