Today was our first day in the field. We visited a mesquite forest and studied 5 types of vegetation cover (with grasses and completely without). At each plot we took readings of evapotranspiration using a tent contraption made of PVC pipe and lining. After a reading was taken for photosynthesis, a solar blanket was placed on the top of the tent to get a reading of respiration. These measurements were then followed by two more procedures to measure evapotranspiration.
Needless to say it was a long day. We spent 5 hours doing field work (plus two hours of driving) and then went back to ARS and looked at some of the data that was collected. I'm excited to get to start analyzing the data tomorrow using Excel. For now, its the only familiar territory I have until I become better at using the equipment.
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Wow - so cool, Andrea! Sounds like you are getting a great experience. Have you seen any wild life like havalina, rattlesnakes (EEK!) or coyote?
ReplyDeleteWell....I saw lots of stuff at the desert museum including coyotes, rattlesnakes, and peccary. But I've only seen a roadrunner and peccary (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peccary) in the wild so far (and some other types of birds).
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