Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest
The Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest is part of the White Mountains in New Hampshire, serving as outdoor laboratory for ecological research projects. It was founded in 1955 by the United States Forest Service to examine the relationships between forests on the one hand and quantities of groundwater and water quality on the other.
- 3.1 Forest
- 3.2 soils
- 3.3 climate
Forest land management
1955, the first section of the area in the Hubbard Brook watershed, west of the town West Thornton, New Hampshire was excellent. The area was provided in 1956 with instruments. Gradually seven sources and their watersheds were delineated. Each of these areas is considered to be an independent ecosystem. Since the outflow of water, minerals and organisms living in water of any watershed can be measured, one can determine the influences on experimental changes.
The Hubbard Brook ecosystem studies
During the first five to six years after its inception, the HBEF for research in the forestry sector was used. Soon, however, its value for ecosystem research was clear and scientists great universities began for the project to be interested. Work in Hubbard Brook have encouraged scientists to advance the experimental ecosystem research on large and complex objects. The research in HBEF helped in interpreting irritating environmental problems, in particular, they lit up the negative effects of acid rain.
History of Research
The experimental methods in Hubbard Brook were first developed by Herbert Bormann from Dartmouth College, the students took already in the fifties in the White Mountain National Forest for botanical fieldwork. He was assisted in this task by Robert Pierce, a forest scientist. From about 1960, the ecologist Gene Likens and the geologist Noye Johnson of Dartmouth in the project participated. They received first time in 1963 $ 60,000 for a study on " Hydrological Cycle Mineral Interaction in a Small Watershed " by the National Science Foundation. It was developed under the name " Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study " (short HBES ) a long-term research funding. The first forms of ecosystem monitoring aimed to investigate the effects of forestry operations on water quantity and quality. These studies were the basis for the following more complex investigations. The HBES has spawned as a result over 2000 publications. The most important was a study on acid rain. Since 1988, the HBEF serves as a " Long-Term Ecological Research ( LTER ) site" and has one of the largest data sets for ecological research. At present, the area Keene State College and University of Vermont for their research is used by scientists from numerous universities such as Dartmouth College, Yale University, Cornell University, Syracuse University, SUNY ESF, University of New Hampshire. The " Hubbard Brook Research Foundation " offers scientists during their work on a farm near the " Mirror Lake " accommodation.
Hubbard Brook ecosystem
The Hubbard Brook area is located at the edge of the White Mountain National Forest in central New Hampshire in the vicinity of the town of Woodstock, New Hampshire. It is accessible via Interstate 93. The forest is home to nine watersheds that discharge the water of the forest and pass over Mirror Lake in the Pemigewasset River near Thornton. The research area is 3160 hectares in size and is located 222-1015 m above sea level. NN.
Forest
The forest in the Hubbard Brook is mostly a mixture of north -occurring hardwoods (80-90 %) and balsam fir and American Red Spruce ( Picea rubens ) (10-20%, in the higher elevations ). American beech (Fagus grandifolia ), yellow birch (Betula allegheniensis ) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum ) are most commonly found in layers around 500 to 700 m. Vermont maple ( Acer spicatum ), striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum ) and American aspen (Populus tremuloides ) grow at different heights. Due to the harsh winter, the regeneration time of decades. Already in the 18th century led to the deforestation. By 1920, approximately 470,000 m³ timber had been beaten.
Soils
The soils of the Hubbard Brook are mainly well - watered Spodosol, which is derived from glacial till and forms a Eluvialhorizont with suspended silt loam. The forest floor in Hubbard Brook is characterized by the presence of all Subhorizonte. It is found mainly humus with loose humus at altitudes below 600 m with maple growth. He is acidic (pH 4.5) and rather barren. Aluminum and iron are usually leached into the deeper soil layers. Silicates are retained and mingle occasionally with the forest floor. The soil depths are very different. At higher altitudes, the humus layer is thin and is often over sandy unsorted material.
Climate
Each year, about 1,400 mm of rain, of which one-third falls as snow in winter. In January the average temperature is -9 ° C and in July 18 ° C. There are 145 days frostfeie. The vegetation period is not more than four months (mid-May to mid-September ).
Research
Hubbard Brook Research Foundation
The " Hubbard Brook Research Foundation " supports the work under the " Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study ." It is intended for research in the Hubbard Brook area. Through the foundation of the maintenance of the buildings and laboratories is financed. The Foundation also supports the transfer of research results into policy and public.
Annual symposia
Swell
- Hubbard Brook Research Foudation (editor ) (2007 ): Long -term trends from ecosystem research at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. General Technical Report NRS - 17th download ( PDF, 6.1 MB)