Climate Change and Forests with Ms. Catledge

Weighing Leaves

2008-12-05T21:50:00.006-05:00

Today was our last day to work on experiments. Another teacher, Brad, and I collected sorted leaves out of the drier and weighed each type of leaf collected from each of the different plots.(Remember the big bags of leaves I saw on the first day.) We had to use an electronic scale to weigh the leaves in the bag. Then we had to subtract the weight of the bag (the tare weight)because we only wanted to know how much the leaves weighed. When the leaves decay they also become a source of carbon dioxide.
Our group took a picture on a bridge that is close to our dormitory. You can see the seven of us in our protective orange vests. We will all leave tomorrow. I have learned so much about global warming it makes me want to have everyone conserve energy by turning off appliances not being used (including computers), adjusting the thermostat when you're not at home, taking bags to the grocery store, and recycling everything we can. I hope we can plan a paperless day at school once a month. Our Earth is warming faster than it ever has historically, and we have to do everything we can to cut down on the amount of carbon dioxide we add to the atmosphere. I look forward to seeing you on Monday,

Logged Forest

2008-12-04T21:53:00.004-05:00

I really enjoyed seeing and talking to all classes today. You asked very good questions. In fact my roommate said you asked better questions than her high school students. I told you I would send you a list of the kinds of trees we measured. We measured tulip poplar, red oaks, white oaks, dogwood, ironwood, maple, beech, red bud, sweet gum, hickory, and spice bush. Everyone of them got a metal tag (forest bling).
Today we went to an area that had been logged. The people who owned the land had many trees cut before they sold the land to the Smithsonian. The people that cut the trees only took the biggest most valuable trees and left the others. However, they damaged many of the trees left standing so many of them will die. Trees use carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight to make food and grow (photosynthesis). As long as the tree is living, the carbon dioxide stays in the tree. When the tree is cut down, the carbon dioxide is released as the tree decomposes. (Do you know what that word means?) Until the trees grow back, more carbon dioxide is being released than is being absorbed.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that keeps the Earth warm. However, when the Eath has too much carbon dioxide it warms up too much causing the ice in the Arctic to melt. The scientists at the SERC are studying how long it takes for areas that have been logged to return to absorbing more carbon dioxide than they are making.

Climbing a Tower

2008-12-03T17:19:00.002-05:00

This afternoon we climbed to the top of a 120 foot tower. At the top, scientific instruments measure rainfall, light, carbon dioxide levels, wind, and how clear the air is. We were higher than the trees. The tower shook a little when the wind blew, but it wasn't bad. Above is a picture of a solar panel with spikey plastic pieces on top of it. What do you think the purpose of the plastic pieces is?

Measuring Tapes and Rain Gauges

2008-12-03T16:55:00.003-05:00

Today we measured trees again in a different plot. Mrs. Henderson’s class wanted to know what I meant about bigger trees. I use two tape measures. One only measures to 2m and is like a small tape measure. I wrap it around a small tree to take the measurement. The other tape will measure trees that are up to 50m in diameter, and it has a hook on the end. When I measure a very large tree I can’t reach all the way around. I put the hook in the bark and walk all the way around the tree. Today I measured a tulip poplar tree that was 96.2 centimeters in diameter. It was a very tall beautiful tree that was 100 feet tall. The orange tape measure that I left for classes to measure trees is like my big measuring tape.
Today I also had to read and record the amount of rain in 20 rain gauges that were spread over a plot. Nancy Khan was telling us that the scientists were trying to find out how much rain reached the ground when trees were present. You may not think there was a big difference, but one gauge had 19.0 mm of rain water and another had 14.5 mm. I was surprised. Today I also hope to climb to the top of a very tall tower so I can see the area all around. Be sure to check the comment section because sometimes I answer your questions there.

Why Are We Measuring Trees?

2008-12-03T07:51:00.004-05:00

Why do you think we are measuring all the trees in each plot? This study is concerned with global warming. What is the connection between global warming and the growth of trees? Hint: What do scientists think is one of the things causing global warming, and what is photosynthesis? Send me your ideas.
Here is another vocabulary term: carbon sequestering. What does it mean?

Bigger Trees

2008-12-02T17:28:00.003-05:00

If the tree was bigger we nailed the tag into the bark. It didn't hurt the tree. It was very important to record all the information because scientists will measure the trees again in five years. They need to make sure they are measuring the same tree to see how it has grown.

Steps to Measuring Trees

2008-12-02T17:04:00.003-05:00

Today we went into the field to measure trees. Posts marked the different plots. In each plot we had to identify each tree, measure it at BHD, and mark if it was leaning or straight. We had a piece of PVC pipe marked with blue tape at the BHD. After we measured the tree we tagged it with a metal tag that had a number on it. If the tree was small, we had to attach the tag with wire.

Walking in the Woods

2008-12-01T21:36:00.002-05:00

One of the things I had to learn today was how to measure a tree. I had to use a special tape measure that told me the diameter of the tree by measuring the circumference. Do you remember these words from math? I had to measure DBH (diameter at breast height) which is 1.3 meters above the ground. The scientists are using these measurements to see how fast trees are growing. Tomorrow we are going to a data plot to measure all the tree that are at least one centimeter in circumference. I think some of you will be measuring the trees in the school yard. To be accurate, you have to keep the tape level. Let me know what you found out.

Walking in the Woods

2008-12-01T21:10:00.002-05:00

As I went for my first walk in the woods at the SERC I took some pictures of some of the things I saw. Can you guess what I saw?

New word

2008-11-30T20:07:00.002-05:00

Hi Students,
Try to find the meaning of a new word I learned, anthropogenic. How does this word relate to climate change?

I Have Arrived

2008-11-30T16:33:00.006-05:00

Hi Students,
I am finally at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland. I was hoping to see some fall color, but the trees are mostly bare. Leaves are covering the ground. We went for a short walk to see the laboratories that the scientists use. I saw big bags filled with dry leaves. What do you they are trying to find out? I found this website you might be interested in looking at. It's called "A Walk in the Woods". I'm going to take some pictures tomorrow to see if you can identify what the pictures are.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/woods/72.html

2008-11-14T21:44:00.003-05:00

Hi Students,
I have never had a blog before so I hope you will write comments to me. How do you think a forest in Maryland will be different from a forest in southern Louisiana? Can you name any trees that grow in our area? Do you think I will find the same trees in Maryland? Why or why not? Mrs. Catledge

2008-11-14T20:45:00.002-05:00

Hello students,
I'm trying to decide what to pack for my trip to Maryland with Earthwatch. Check the weather in Baltimore, Maryland and help me decide what I need to take. Remember, I will be working outside. Mrs. Catledge