Earthwatch - Live From the Field

Climate Change and Fragmented Forests
Edgewater, Maryland
November 28th - December 4th 2009

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Edgewater, Maryland – Billions of people around the world rely on trees and forests for food, shelter, fuel, medicines, stable soils, clean air and fresh water. Forests harbor more species than any other terrestrial habitat, safeguarding the world’s biological heritage. They are integral components of many landscapes, and play a central role in the cultural fabric of diverse societies. In recent years, the role of forests in capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions from human activities has come to the fore. Carbon emissions from the destruction of forests and the burning of fossil fuels are contributing to global warming and associated changes in the world’s climate.

Earthwatch, in conjunction with the HSBC Climate Partnership, have founded five centers based near forests that have been extensively shaped by human disturbance and interaction. The Climate Center is in the woodlands of Maryland is located within a 2800-acre swath of the Eastern Deciduous Forest, which has been greatly influenced by human activity. The trees vary greatly in age, many having only recently regenerated from agricultural land that was poorly managed. Research indicates that the forest has been cut down at least once and maybe twice. More than 40 per cent of Maryland is currently covered by forest, which serve many functions, from providing drinking water and jobs, to recreation, timber and hunting.

The study aims to reveal which tree species are becoming more common in changing conditions, which trees are being lost, how much carbon is stored by the trees, and how neighboring trees interact with each other over time. Earthwatch and partners will use this information to make recommendations to forest managers in North America.

RESOURCES

Earthwatch:
HSBC Live From the Field Fellowships for Teachers
Earthwatch Fellowships for Student and Teachers
HSBC Climate Partnership
Photos from the Regional Climate Center in Maryland

General:
Climate Change resources
Education Resources from the EPA
The GLOBE Program - International Environmental/Science Education Program
Computer Simulations of Global CO2 Emissions
NOAA education resources
Center for Instruction, Staff Development and Education
North American Association for Environmental Education
Climate Change Calculator
EPA – Climate Change for Kids
EPA – Climate Change and Forests
US Forest Service – Climate Change Tree Atlas
Rainforest Alliance – Learning resources
Temporal Forest Foundation – lesson plans
Talk about trees – Student and Teacher resources
Education World - Lesson on collecting data about trees

Research site specific:
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI),
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)
Maryland Forest Service

Follow our blogs as we experience our Earthwatch expedition Climate Change and Fragmented Forests in Edgewater, Maryland from November 28 - December 4 2009

This Live From the Field program and educator fellowships are made possible by generous funding from HSBC in the Community.

This site is the result of collaborative efforts from the members of this Earthwatch project and the support of Earthwatch Institute.

Meet the Teachers

Todd Bohannon
Thornton Creek School
Seattle, WA

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/Bohannon

Ann Brooks
Wrightsville Beach Elementary
Wrightsville Beach, NC

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/Brooks

Vickie Hoskins
MacArthur High School
Houston, TX

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/Hoskins

Louise Kirkwood
Truman Moon School
Middletown, NY

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/Kirkwood

Mary McCullagh
Christopher Columbus High
Miami, FL

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/McCullagh

Rebecca Rutzick
Thornton Creek Elementary
Seattle, WA

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/Rutzick

Vicki Vieau
Salen Grade School
Salen, WI

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/Vieau

Karla Sorenson Karla Sorensen
Plymouth Youth Center
Minneapolis, MN

Blog: Earthwatch2.org/LFF/Sorensen

Meet the Scientist

Dr. Geoffrey (‘Jess’) Parker is the head scientist in the Forest Ecology lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in 1985 and has been at SERC since 1987. His previous research concerned the effects on forests of acid deposition and the nutrient balance and microclimate of logged tropical forests. His current research involves the energy, water and carbon balances of forests, and explores how forest structure influences those functions.

Nassau, The Bahamas

Earthwatch Expedition Briefing

Earthwatch Classroom Earth Case Study

Photographs from the expedition

Year on Earth. Video clip overview of environmental issues facing the coral reefs and various tools used to survey the reefs as told by three students volunteering on the Bahamian Reef Survey expedition.

Blogs from previous teams:

Heather Brown
Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School
Jamaica Plain, MA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/brown/

Sherrill Dappan
Saint Helena Elementary School
Napa Valley, CA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/dappen/

Denise Deghi
San Mateo Park School
San Mateo, CA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/deghi/

Sarah Hahn
Community Academy of Science and Health
Hyde Park, MA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/boston/

Grace Hancock
Hanover Park High School
Florham Park, NJ
Blog: http://hornetunderwater.blogspot.com

Sarah Mitchell
Johnson Middle School
Bradenton, FL
Blog: http://xit.manatee.k12.fl.us/?blog=SMitchell

Shea Pickelner
City Academy
Salt Lake City, UT
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/pickelner/

Karen Stein
Ridgedale Middle School
Florham Park, NJ
Blog: http://mrsstein.blogspot.com

Consuela Taylor
Charles R. Drew Charter School
Atlanta GA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/taylor/

Kristina Willmarth
Lydia Hawk Elementary School in
Lacey, WA
Blog: http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/willmarth/

Map

rollino map page