01-26-2011, 12:15 PM
GREENLAND, N.H. -- Several dedicated volunteers are needed to help with field research in New Hampshire monitoring climate change and sea level rise. The Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is putting out the call for volunteers to assist in an intensive six-week period of field work set to begin September 4, 2010.
The research is possible because the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is loaning the reserve an "RTK" (real time kinematic) GPS unit for a period of six weeks, beginning September 4, 2010.
The data collected with this unit will be used to generate digital elevation models of three salt marshes. These models will be used as part of a national monitoring project measuring ecological impacts of relative sea level change associated with climate change.
Two volunteers are needed to help run this equipment each day. One individual is needed to sit with the base station of the RTK unit. This is a non-physical volunteer role. The other volunteer will accompany a staff member in the field (extreme field conditions in a salt marsh environment) as they operate the roving unit. This project is weather-dependent and will involve full field days.
If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about this project, please contact the Reserve by emailing Jay.Sullivan@wildlife.nh.gov or calling 603-778-0015.
The work is part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System's Habitat Mapping and Change initiative, which allows for long-term monitoring of ecological alterations, particularly those associated with climate change. Integrating geodetic and tidal data with habitat information will allow the Reserve to function as a sentinel site for climate change research and provide tools to improve coastal resilience. It establishes a framework long-term data set on which to rest multiple research and monitoring activities, such as modeling effects of tidal inundation on local habitats and human infrastructure.
The Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a cooperative federal-state partnership between the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Visit http://www.greatbay.org.
The research is possible because the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is loaning the reserve an "RTK" (real time kinematic) GPS unit for a period of six weeks, beginning September 4, 2010.
The data collected with this unit will be used to generate digital elevation models of three salt marshes. These models will be used as part of a national monitoring project measuring ecological impacts of relative sea level change associated with climate change.
Two volunteers are needed to help run this equipment each day. One individual is needed to sit with the base station of the RTK unit. This is a non-physical volunteer role. The other volunteer will accompany a staff member in the field (extreme field conditions in a salt marsh environment) as they operate the roving unit. This project is weather-dependent and will involve full field days.
If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about this project, please contact the Reserve by emailing Jay.Sullivan@wildlife.nh.gov or calling 603-778-0015.
The work is part of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System's Habitat Mapping and Change initiative, which allows for long-term monitoring of ecological alterations, particularly those associated with climate change. Integrating geodetic and tidal data with habitat information will allow the Reserve to function as a sentinel site for climate change research and provide tools to improve coastal resilience. It establishes a framework long-term data set on which to rest multiple research and monitoring activities, such as modeling effects of tidal inundation on local habitats and human infrastructure.
The Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a cooperative federal-state partnership between the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Visit http://www.greatbay.org.