Dear Geography undergraduates, Joshua Albritton, who earned his MS in Geography in our department, now works for Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He is looking for some volunteers to help with the study described below. Contact Joshua if you are interested. Joshua lives in Knoxville, near campus. The possibility exists of riding to the meeting site for field work with him. Sincerely, Sally Sally P. Horn, Professor Department of Geography 304 Burchfiel Geography Building 1000 Phillip Fulmer Way The University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 37996-0925 U.S.A. phone: (865) 974-6030 fax: (865) 974-6025 e-mail: [log in to unmask] http://web.utk.edu/~utkgeog/faculty/horn.htm <https://webmail.utk.edu/redirect?http://web.utk.edu/~utkgeog/faculty/horn.htm> NSF GK-12 Earth Project: http://web.utk.edu/~gk12/ <https://webmail.utk.edu/redirect?http://web.utk.edu/~gk12/> ________________________________ From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Mon 12/6/2010 9:20 AM To: Horn, Sally P Subject: Lysimeter sampling in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hi Sally, Below is information on a project that we're just beginning in GRSM. It involves collecting soil-water samples from plots in spruce-fir forests throughout the park. Overall, we're looking to correlate soil-water chemistry with bulk soil chemistry and plant distribution - very geographic in nature! Currently, I'm looking for volunteer help. I was wondering if you could please pass along this email to club geography if in case anyone in the department may be interested in getting some field-work experience in the park. Thanks! Joshua Hello All, Poor air quality and related acid deposition from rain, snow, and clouds threaten the viability of spruce-fir forests in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A new study by the National Park Service (NPS) and University of Missouri researchers is underway in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to measure soil-solution (soil-water) chemistry across high-elevation spruce-fir forests. These data will be correlated with bulk soil chemistry data, and then be used to examine plant distribution and spruce-fir vegetation response to acid deposition. There are a total of 30 randomly selected sample plots arranged throughout the spruce-fir forest zone above 1500 m (5100 ft.). They're located adjacent to trails in the Clingmans Dome/Mt. Collins area, NE of Newfound Gap, and around Mt. Leconte. At each sample-plot location, two lysimeters (soil-moisture probes) have been installed. Water samples from each lysimeter will be collected in the field, returned to the lab at Twin Creeks, cataloged, and analyzed for their chemistry make-up. Currently, we're looking for volunteers to assist with this study. Overall, the project will include plenty of trail hiking, with most being of moderate intensity. A limited amount off-trail hiking will also be required. The volunteer will need to feel comfortable hiking on uneven terrain, and perhaps in ice, snow, or windy conditions. The field team will always be comprised of at least two people (but the more the better), which will include myself and/or Megan Cooke. Due to unpredictable winter conditions, we'll plan to meet at Twin Creeks Science and Education Center in Gatlinburg and go up in a park vehicle. Likewise, plenty of warm clothing, snacks, and water will be needed. We'll also take up an NPS stove, radio, and any other gear that may be needed. We can furnish a backpack if needed. We'll plan to conduct field work Monday-Friday, depending on conditions. If you're interested, please let me know and I can give you more details. I can be contacted at [log in to unmask], or you can call me at 865-436-1200 ext. 769. Best, Joshua Albritton Joshua W. Albritton Biological Technician Great Smoky Mountains National Park 1316 Cherokee Orchard Rd. Gatlinburg, TN 37738 (865) 436-1200 x769 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- To review the archives of CLUBGGY or Join/Leave the list go to: http://listserv.utk.edu/archives/clubggy.html