My morning began with a presentation about different kinds of energy and how they can be both good and bad for the earth. Dr. Bert Drake taught us about fossil fuels, such as oil and coal. These fuels put carbon into the atmosphere. When we are not using these forms of energy, they are keeping carbon safely trapped (the word for this is sequestered). But as soon as humans dig up coal and burn it or pump oil up from the ground, the carbon gets back into the atmosphere and makes the planet's trees and plants work extra hard to take it out of the air. That's why we need to start thinking about other forms of energy that won't be as harmful. We also have to be more respectful of forests and protect them. Many people who damage forests do it because they need the land to grow food or they need the wood to build with. How can we help these people with their needs and keep them from destroying the forests? The Amazon rainforest is in great danger and so are many others.
Today we went to an area of the forest that was logged before SERC owned this land. Most of the good trees were cut down to be sold for their wood. Some trees were left standing. The scientists were upset that the trees had been cut down but they also realized it was a good opportunity to study this kind of landscape. How quickly will the forest get back to its old self in a place like this? What kinds of plants will start growing here? We checked the amount of rainwater that had accumulated in an instrument called a rain gauge. There are 20 of these in this field. Some of them have leaves that have fallen inside. After measuring the rainwater, it gets dumped out. The scientists keep visiting the field to check how much rain water is falling there over time. This data helps them understand what's happening to the forest and how long it might take for it to become healthy again.
On our walk back, we took an old carriage road from back in the days when this was a farm. We stopped to look at a gigantic blob of wood oozing from the base of a tree. Remember that bald eagle I saw yesterday? Well today, we walked right beneath its nest, high up in a tree overlooking a pond.