Peat Bog and Fen research

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This entry may be a little boring, but wanted to let you know I've made it to the land of the nicest accent. I am working for two researchers based out of the US who are studying carbon cycling in peat bogs and fens. Bogs and Fens are simply wetlands with peat moss growing in them. The area is pretty, rolling hills with lots of black and white spruce and aspens as well as tons of ducks, deer, hawks, coyotes, fox, black bears etc...
I'm attaching a few photos to show the work we're doing. We actually put a plexiglass box over squares of peat and measure the carbon dioxide balance within the box. We're just starting a new project where we are simulating drought. You can see in the pictures that we hauled in lots of supplies to build little canopies over the peat squares. Research is silly sometimes, but this will give a better understanding about how much carbon peat can sequester. It's an important question as they are thought to hold over 50 percent of the carbon held in vegetation or something like that. I should check my facts before I put them out in cyberspace, but you get the idea. So here are some pics and I'll check in later.

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Photos

Beaver
A beaver in the pond next to the research station.

Measuring Carbon
This is my partner, James, learning to measure the carbon in the fen. It's quite a juggling act, staying on the boardwalk while placing that box in the holder and making sure the machine stays dry.

Hauling in supplies
This is my supervisor, Kim, hauling in rebar to build the drought exclusion structures.

Comments

[Mom]

its good to hear from you.
Jennie, You said it looked a lot like SD when i talked to you. I think it looks kind of like the Black Hills maybe, with all the pine trees. Have someone take your picture too. i miss you and love you. Mom