Rocket Man and Tree Cores
Today we went back out to Rocket Lake. Our group started out on the tundra collecting data about the trees and shrubs that grew there. I was surprised to see that even though most of the trees were much shorter and farther apart on the tundra, there were some plants that actually grew taller and healthier out on that tundra. Why might that be?
While we were out there, we found an old rocket that was launched by Canadian government scientists who were collecting data about the atmosphere. The building where we are staying, the Churchill Northern Study Center, actually used to be the rocket range (Fort Churchill) where these rockets were built, launched from, and the data they collected was studied before it closed down and was turned into a research facility. A couple years ago, the research team at the Study Center did a 1-kilometer search for rockets around the Center, and they found 90 different rockets that were left behind.
After finishing in the tundra, we worked back in the forest collecting core samples from trees. I had a lot of fun doing this, especially after I learned that the trees can fill in the holes we make with sap, so it does not do long-term damage to the trees. (some other people had a harder time getting the hang of it) All of the trees in the forest were white spruce, and from the core samples we took the researchers here can collect information about the age of the trees in the forest, their growth rates, and the climate over the years. They estimate that the trees we are sampling are somewhere between 100 to 250 years old. These trees can only grow a couple of centimeters a year when they are adults, and most of them are between 6 and 10 meters tall. Tomorrow we will be collecting seedlings and saplings from the forest, then taking core samples in the forest-tundra biome.
I still haven't seen any polar bears yet, but other people nearby have, so now we have 2 people with us with shotguns at all times. Hopefully we will see more on our tour on Saturday...a group that took the same tour yesterday saw 3 polar bears, a caribou, and an arctic fox. Even though I have people looking out for me all the time, I did get some valuable advice on what I should do if I see one.
posted by Doug @ 7:56 PM
6 Comments:
Hi Doug.
I'm curious which plants are growing taller and healthier out on the tundra?
You mentioned that the trees in the forest are mostly white spruce. What species are the trees on the tundra?
And do you have a favorite Arctic plant?
Best,
Daniel
What's Doug this is Alvin, can you brin g me back something? the pics are funny and hot. Ms Rosario wants to know if NY is on the same time as Manitoba
Hi Mr. Doug,
Thanks again for your response! We think that some of the trees are large because they have adapted to the weather. Or maybe because it is growing season? You said it was raining and that it does not rain much, so we think it could be spring there, but we aren't sure.
We loved your pictures, especially the one of you with the rocket!
Here are some more questions:
Will you be afraid of the Polar Bears?
-Louis
What are you eating?
-Judex, Wilfredo, Dante
How could you tell how old the trees are?
Why is it so dark?
-Shaimek
Why do the girls get to have the shot guns?
-All of us!
Talk to you soon!
Alvin, I'm not sure what I could bring you back. There are almost no stores or places to buy anything out here (only 900 people live in the whole town and they are all spread out) and we have to go through customs going back into the US, so we can't bring back some of the coolest things we are finding, like plants or any of the food. And tell Ms. Rosario that we are in the Central time zone, so we are one hour behind you guys in NY.
Daniel, the main plant that seems to be growing better on tundra is the sheperdia. Even in places where the willow and the birch that we were seeing in the forest and forest-tundra were almost nonexistent, the sheperdia was quite robust. We were only taking data on shrubs over 30 cm tall, and most of the sheperdia that reached this minimum height requirement was on the tundra.
The tundra had the same species of trees as the forest, but there was a higher ratio of larch seedlings and saplings to white spruce on the tundra than in the forest. There were only a couple larch trees out there though. I actually think the larch trees may be my favorite, but the bear berry plants are really cool looking too.
Hi Ms. Kaplan's class,
You guys may be right about the plants on the tundra. It is fall here too, we are in the same hemisphere and have the same seasons, but some plants that can handle the weather, the wind, and the shallow soil above the permafrost should have an easier time growing in the tundra without the competition of tall trees and other shrubs that would compete for the same resources.
I don't think I would be afraid of the polar bears. They usually leave people alone, especially in the wild and when people are in bigger groups. Also, the people here are used to being on careful watch for bears, because there have been some attacks here, so I feel safe with them around. We are also not allowed outside by ourselves, or out of eyesight of someone with a shotgun while we are in the field.
We are eating normal food in the dining hall up here. There is a cook, Audrey who works here and feeds us, the researchers, and any visitors or visiting researchers who are staying at the Study center. We have had eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast, pancakes, and oatmeal for breakfast. We have had things like turkey and stuffing, ham, lasagna, soups and salads, and sandwiches for lunch and dinner.
You can tell how old trees are by the number of rings and the width of each ring from the outside to the middle of a tree. I will try to bring back a white spruce tree core to show you what I mean.
And finally, the girls get the shotguns because they live up here, so they are used to handling guns for their own protection and for hunting for food. People up here don't carry guns to shoot at other people or to try to be cool, but because they need to eat and to keep themselves safe from dangerous animals. So they are the ones we trust to protect us if we need it.
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