Dryland Ecohydrology
School of Life Sciences
Welcome! Our lab conducts research on climate, ecology and hydrology in arid and semiarid ecosystems.
Nevada-Arizona Microclimate Network
Established in 2021-2022
Research Summary
In 2021 and 2022, our lab established 11 meteorological and environmental monitoring stations in mid- and high-elevation shrubland, woodland and forest ecosystems in Nevada and Arizona. These stations were designed to capture fine-scale conditions within representative interspace openings in each location, and were sited to capture meteorological and environmental change across small elevation gradients (200 m in Nevada; new deployment in AZ will allow for a similar gradient). We're pretty excited about these stations, and have a number of research projects and other fun things planned for them.
In spring 2022 we expanded measurements at 4 of these stations to monitor the performance and survival of planted ponderosa pine seedlings. In many disturbed and undisturbed locations, ponderosa pines are failing to regenerate, which is bad news for long term forest persistence. Planted seedlings also frequently die, making management and restoration efforts very difficult. If we can determine the specific environmental conditions influencing seedling survival and mortality, we can develop management interventions that more successfully promote their persistence in a changing climate.
Locations
Nevada
Microclimate: Mojave Desert and P-J boundary, 1845 m
Microclimate: P-J mid elevation, 2054 m
Microclimate: P-J high elevation, 2254 m
Micro + Regeneration: Ponderosa pine, 2482 m
Micro + Regeneration: Ponderosa pine high severity burn, 2401 m
Micro + Regeneration: Mixed Conifer, 2715 m
Phenocam + Conifer Remote Sensing: P-J mid elevation, 2054 m
Arizona
Microclimate: Chaparral and P-J boundary, 1386 m
Microclimate: P-J, 1605 m
Microclimate: Ponderosa pine, 2190 m
Microclimate: Ponderosa pine high severity burn, 2168 m
Measurements & Equipment
Microclimate Stations
a) Meteorology: 1m height (Meter/Campbell Scientific ClimaVUE50)
b) Photosynthetically Active Radiation (Apogee CS310)
c) Surface Temperature (Apogee SI-111SS)
d) Soil Temperature: 0-15 cm (Campbell Scientific TCAV)
e) Soil Heat Flux (Huskeflux HFP01)
f) Soil Moisture: 10, 20, 40 cm (Meter TEROS10)
Microclimate & Planted Regeneration Stations
a) Meteorology: 1 m (Meter/Campbell Scientific ClimaVUE50)
b) Photosynthetically Active Radiation (Apogee CS310)
c) Surface Temperature (Apogee SI-111SS)
d) Soil Temperature: 0-15 cm (Campbell Scientific TCAV)
e) Soil Heat Flux (Huskeflux HFP01)
f) Soil Moisture: 10, 20, 40 cm (Meter TEROS10)
g) Tree Canopy Temperature (Apogee SI-111SS)
h) Photos, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (Campbell Scientific CCFC)
i) Photochemical Reflectance Index (Skye Instruments 1840D/ND)
Phenocam
a) Photos, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (Campbell Scientific CCFC)
b) Air Temperature, Relative Humidity (Campbell Scientific EE181-L)
c) Tree Canopy Temperature (Apogee SI-111SS)
d) Photochemical Reflectance Index (Skye Instruments 1840D/ND)
Data Access
We are approaching year 3 of data collection. Please contact Dr. Petrie to inquire about data access and collaborations.
