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

Datasets 65 years of rain Highs & lows

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) ↗Monthly highs & lows (CSV) ↗

Also: monthly highs & lows, kept current from NOAA · the original HBS temperature tables, 1961–2018: highs · lows · Data Management Policy

02 · The climate record

Sixty-five 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.

2025

77.78 inches

8.74 in below the 86.52-inch average · 41st wettest of 65 years

August–October filled from NOAA’s Highlands station record (the Station’s rain gauge was out of service).

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 2025 Line = average for that month

Source: HBS monthly precipitation since 1961 (CSV). Some months are filled from NOAA’s Highlands station record (USC00314055); the file notes which. 2026 is still under way (49.30 inches January–September) and joins the chart once the year is complete.

03 · The climate record

Highs & lows

The average high and low for every month in Highlands, from NOAA’s record for the town’s official weather station. New months appear here on their own once NOAA posts them, usually within the first couple of weeks of the next month.

2026 · January–September so far

65.3°average high

45.1°average low

Hottest 91°F on August 16 · coldest −1°F on February 2

Choose a year

Each bar runs from the month’s average low up to its average high, and the thin line reaches its hottest and coldest single readings. The short white ticks mark the long-term average for that month; the dashed line is freezing. Hover, tap or tab to a month for details.

Source: NOAA NCEI Global Summary of the Month, station HIGHLANDS, NC US (USC00314055). Through September 2026. Checked against NOAA October 28, 2026.

04 · Publications

What the Station has published

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

Search the publications database Theses & dissertations ↗

281Papers, reports & books, 2000–2025

1961Start of the climate record