This past week I traveled to New York City to meet with my research team at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO). The LDEO is located in Palisade, NY, approximately 30 minutes from the heart of Manhattan, but seems to be a world removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. The campus sits on an old estate that was once a weekend residence for Thomas Lamont and now, according to the lab's website, houses a "leading research institution where more than 200 research scientists seek fundamental knowledge about the origin, evolution, and future of the natural world". Certainly not a small task!!
Welcome to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
In July I will be travelling with researchers Kevin Anchukaitis and Brendan Buckley to the headwaters of the Firth River to assist them with a dendroclimatology study. We will be searching out the 'farthest north' stands of white spruce in an effort to collect core samples that will provide some insight into climate change impacts on tree growth at that northerly location.
Our sampling equipment is quite basic. We will use an increment borer to drill small holes in our sample trees. The borer allows you to remove a small core (less than 1/4" in diameter) from the tree. We will be sampling as many trees from as many different aspects and slopes as we can get to. In addition, we will be carrying another piece of low-tech equipment--small pruning saws. These saws will be used to cut slices from 'sub-fossilized wood'--trees that have died and are lying on the ground. Our most high-tech piece of equipment will be the GPS unit (global positioning system) to catalog each tree that we sample.
Kevin demonstrates how to use an increment borer to collect a sample.
While coring trees is fairly simple, the magic really happens back at the lab. Cores are dried in wooden racks and prepared for study by sanding one face of the sample. Then the cores are ready for analysis under a microscope. Rings are counted and the distance between each ring is carefully measured and recorded. Ring width data is entered into a specially designed computer program that finds matches between width-distance sequences. With this matching process, dendrochronologists are able to piece together information on the most probable age of the tree as well as make some inferences about climactic conditions while the tree was growing. We will also be collecting samples from dead trees. These samples can also provide valuable information about past growing conditions.
Cores awaiting processing. These cores are from a project in Guatemala.
The cores are placed in racks to dry.
These cores have been sanded and are ready for examining under the microscope.
Once the cores are dried and sanded, you can measure distance between the rings using a microscope. The computer screen shows a spreadsheet where you keep track of your data.
Here's a tree slice from Alaska. If you count the rings, you'll find out that it was around 200 years old when it died.
The other focus of my visit was learning about all the logistics involved with planning a trip to a remote field location. Brendan and Kevin have been working to find which air service they will use to get us to our field location. Choosing a field location is not as easy as it sounds once you factor in topography, proximity to the trees we need to sample, and the importance of a site that has a good landing area (perhaps the most important thing!). We discussed food and camping equipment needs. We are planning to bring a minimum of personal equipment and lightweight food to keep weight down for the flight to the study site and so that we aren't hauling a literal ton of gear if we need to camp far from where the plane is able to land. Besides standard backpacking gear I will be bringing my laptop and satellite phone as well as a solar charger so that I can communicate from the field and post journals on the PolarTREC website. I've NEVER gone backpacking with a laptop computer before!
This Topographic map shows sites that were sampled in 2003. We'll be visiting those sites as well as others near the Firth and along Mancha Creek.
My visit also included a pre-trip field logistics phone call with PolarTREC and Robbie Score from Polar Services to cover some of the logistical details about my upcoming adventure. I will work closely with Robbie to make sure that I have all the clothing and gear I need for the field. Luckily, I already own a pretty extensive selection of backpacking equipment and clothing that I will be able to use. I even have my own mosquito net hat--there's a rumor that it will come in handy!