Rain, Rain Go Away!

A rainy and windy day brought out the rain gear and umbrellas on this Labor Day 2009 in Churchill, Manitoba. Yes, the Canadians also observe Labor Day.

Today we were back out at the seedling plantation where we finished measuring the seedlings to determine how the weather has been affecting them since being planted in 2005. After we conduct more research at different locations we will then begin to discuss the data that has been collected.

After the rainy day in the field and before dinner this evening Dr. Peter Kershaw, the lead researcher here, Bill Power from Calgary, Alberta, who works for Shell Oil and I went out for a thirty minute run in the rain on the gravel roads. Dr. Pete took the starter pistol with him just in case we encountered a Polar Bear. I took my camera in case we saw a Polar Bear. I wonder who the Polar Bear would have gone after first.

This evening’s lecture was a very good one on Global Climate Change. I look forward to sharing that information with those great SHS students, who I do miss. However, I hope to see your smiling faces and respond to your great questions when we Skype in a few days.

Here are some questions that I would like for you to begin to discuss and gather information on prior to our scheduled conference later this week.
What is a seedling?
What climate is best suitable for White Spruce?
What is the tundra?
In dealing with seedlings and trees what is meant by the term bud?
What is meant by the term treeline?

A REMINDER FOR THE 7TH AND 8TH GRADE STUDENTS: Please make sure that you have been putting all questions and answers in your notebook, even the “clipboard points” that have been posted on this blog. The questions and answers will be discussed perhaps during a Skype call, but most definitively upon my return. Perhaps you will be able to discuss in class at some point some of these questions. Many of you have picked up some “clipboard points”. Good job!