Mohonk Preserve saving the land for life

Transcription

1 Mohonk Preserve saving the land for life Climate Trackers Orientation Saturday, March 5 th, :00pm 5:00pm Christy Belardo Citizen Science Education Coordinator Paul Huth Director of Research Emeritus Pin Oak Allee by Michael Neil O Donnell Climate Tracker Volunteers Pin Oak Reading Allee by the Michael Weather Neil Box O Donnell by Hires

2 Conservation Science at the Daniel Smiley Research Center Ecological Management Human Use & History Collections Management Long-Term Environmental Monitoring on the Ridge 100+ Years of Natural History Data Citizen Science Program Climate, Lake, & Weather Monitoring (Year-Long) Plant & Animal Phenology (Year- Long) Peregrine Watch (Spring) Bird Breeding Census (Spring) Hawk Watch (Fall) Christmas Bird Count (Winter) Top: Elms Cottage Bottom: Paul Huth by Jay Diggs 2

3 Citizen Science Program Goals Educate and engage Preserve members and the public about visible impacts of climate change on the Shawangunk Ridge and beyond Expand scope of scientific study Build capacity for long-term ecological monitoring Left: Climate Trackers Measuring Ice Thickness on Mohonk Lake Right: Volunteers Collecting Phenological Observations

4 Climate Tracker Program Structure & Volunteer Requirements Goal Assist with weather observation and lake water monitoring at Mohonk Lake Structure Orientation of Protocols & Methodology Series of Shadowing Visits with Staff or Experienced Volunteers Progression to Solo Shifts Ongoing Training Opportunities & Workshops Requirements Attend trainings and shadowing sessions with staff or experienced volunteers Demonstrate proficiency in weather and lake sampling protocols Minimum 4x a month Reliable follow-through on shift assignments Top: Climate Tracker Volunteers Collecting Lake Samples Bottom: Climate Tracker Volunteer Reading Weather Thermometers

5 Record Daily Temperatures Collect Lake Samples Climate Trackers Weather & Water Monitoring at Mohonk Preserve Measure Precipitation Measure Lake Height

6 Mohonk Lake Cooperative Weather Station Daily Readings Taken 1896-Present 44,800+ afternoons to date! DSRC Top Left: Daniel Smiley Taking Daily Weather Readings at Weather Box Top Middle: Mohonk Mountain House & Lake Top Right: Paul Huth & Daniel Smiley Out in the Field Bottom Middle: Reading Max & Min Thermometers Bottom Right: Climate Tracker Volunteers Measuring Rain Collection Gauge

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8 Temperature ( F) Average Daily Temperature by Year ( ) Highest Temperature: in 2012 Lowest Temperature: in Year

9 Temperature ( F) Top 10 Warmest & Coldest Years ( ) Top 10 Warmest Years All Since Warmest Coldest Year

10 Precipitation Gauge on Boat Wharf 1913 Precipitation Gauge Highlighted at Boat Wharf on Mohonk Lake

11 Precipitaion (inches) Total Yearly Precipitation ( ) Most rain: 78.77" in Least rain: 28.01" in Year

12 Acid Rain Study (1976 Present) First Chemical Analyses of Rainfall by U.S. Department of Interior Geological Survey in the Nation Top Left: ph Gauge in Daniel Smiley Research Center Lab Bottom Left: Climate Tracker Volunteer Obtaining Acid Rain Sample Right: Acid Rain Collector Housed On Elms Cottage Front Lawn

13 Average Annual ph Yearly Acid Rain ph Averages ( ) 5.5 Yearly Acid Rain Averages ( ) Year Improvements because of Clean Air Act amendments in 1990 Still far from 5.7 (non-acid rain)

14 Sky Lakes on the Shawangunk Ridge 683m (2242 ft) elevation m (1245 ft) Mohonk Minnewaska Mud Pond Awosting Maratanza Underlying geology: Quartz-conglomerate for all but Mohonk Mohonk: Quartz-conglomerate + shale

15 Mohonk Lake Sampling Daily Temperature and ph Readings Twice Daily (830AM; 400PM) Measured at 3 Depths Surface, 20, 40 Top Left: Daniel Smiley Begins Sampling Mohonk Lake in 1977 by Ludwig, 1986 Top Right: Climate Tracker Lowering Kemmerer Water Collection Bottle Bottom Center: Climate Tracker Volunteers Measuring Lake Temperature Readings

16 Mohonk Lake Surface ph ( ) No major change over the years Annual cycles with summer peaks

17 Long-Term Sky Lakes Monitoring Study Geology Controls on ph Shale Makes Mohonk Neutral Mohonk Minnewaska What is happening here? Acid rain improving? Awosting

18 Measuring Lake Ice Thickness Determining Lake Ice Coverage Collecting Weather & Lake Samples Even in the Snow Winter Protocols Measuring Snow Fall & Snow on Ground Collecting Lake Water Samples

19 After Shawdowing Sessions: Solo Shifts Climate Tracking Security Key Card Access Opens DSRC Only DSRC Security Alarm Code Disarms/Arms DSRC Only Mohonk Mountain House Parking Pass Benefits: Contributing to 120-years worth of weather history (long-term data collection) Access to the Mohonk Mountain House Grounds Parking Pass Parking at the Staff Lot J 19

20 Scheduling: First Come, First Serve Basis Google Calendar Volunteers Able to View Available Shifts Choose shifts that work for your schedule At least 4-shifts a month Mohonk Preserve Climate Trackers Volunteer Coordinator - Christy Sends a confirmation e- mail with confirmed shifts Your name placed on Google Calendar 20

21 Who to Contact Christy Belardo Citizen Science Education Coordinator Work # ext (Visitor Center) Work # ext (Daniel Smiley Research Center) Cell:

22 Hepatica Adjusting to Changing Climate Bloodroot 20 days earlier John Thompson Understanding Weather From What is Happening on the Ground 14 days earlier John Thompson 23 days earlier 14 days earlier 10 days earlier Jefferson Salamander USDA Wood Frog USGS Eastern Towhee Dave Johnson 6 days earlier 5 days earlier 11 days earlier Hermit Thrush Black-Throated USFWS Blue Warbler USFWS Gypsy Moth Larvae USDA FS

23 Climate and Phenology at Mohonk This dataset is highly unusual in North America for its longevity of record, consistency of methodology and location, diversity of species available, and availability of local daily meteorological data

24 Mohonk Preserve saving the land for life Thank you! 24