Today we were back at the study site after a couple of days of doing other chores for the project. The sun has really been working at this snow since we arrived last week. The snow that is left at this point is soft and wet which makes it a bit tougher to walk on. We took the snowmobile to the study site today, but I think this will be the last time we use it this season.
On our first day the tundra was covered with snow.
One week later the tundra looks very different!
Dr. Natali worked on clearing snow from the boards that mark the areas for the sensors that were left in the ground last year. These are the actual study areas were measurements are being taken. The equipment in the ground is beginning to show through now. I cleared some thick snow areas and then I began to take down the snow fences in site B. Why are we taking the fences down now? One word; control! The fences that were up to collect snow during the winter may now be shading the plants as they begin their growing season. To leave them in might cause one side of the study area to grow different from the other.
Dr. Natali cleared snow around the study sites.
This is one of the sites at B where the equipment is now showing through the snow.
Mr. Wood began taking fences down.
Walking around the tundra today I couldn't help but notice the many different plants, mosses, and lichens that are really beginning to take off. I have yet to learn all of their names, but there are almost 30 different species in all. I will begin by introducing some of them now and give the common names, which are easier to remember.
This red moss is one of about twelve different mosses in the tundra around the study site.
This is a Crowberry plant just beginning to grow. They are a sweet tasting berry.
This Reindeer Lichen is one of about seven species in the area.
The tundra is already looking very different from last week. I can't wait to see it next week as the sun really gets things happening!