Five research sites were located near Nordegg , Alberta . At each research location, an in-stand Campbell Scientific weather station has been installed to record temperature, relative humidity, rain, incoming solar radiation and 10 hour fuel moisture (Figure 1). There are three primary locations- a north-facing slope, a south-facing slope and the valley bottom. On each slope, there are two in-stand weather stations- one on a shallower (30%) lower slope, and one on a steeper (50%) higher slope.
Figure 1. In-stand weather station set-up showing tipping rain gauges at the south-facing lower site .
A sixth weather station has been installed at the Nordegg Ranger Station to represent standard fire weather collection in the open. This station records ten meter wind, temperature, relative humidity, incoming solar radiation and 10 hour fuel moisture (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Open weather station installed at the Nordegg Ranger Station.
Destructive sampling began as soon as the weather stations were installed (early June). At each weather station location, ten samples (six needle litter and four moss tips) are collected daily depending on the weather. Due to large quantities of rain (Figure 3), fewer samples than expected have been collected. As of the end of July, almost 600 destructive samples have been collected and processed.
Figure 3. Rain gauge showing 60 mm of rain collected on June 12 at the south-facing lower site.
As long as the weather is dry, sampling will continue throughout the remaining summer period and into September (Figure 4). The research sites will be described using fixed radius plot densities and fuel loading data in the early fall. A Leaf Area Index wand will also be used to quantify the amount of solar radiation entering through the forest canopy.
Figure 4. Collecting and drying samples of needle litter and moss tips (top two centimeters).
Analysis of the field data will begin in the early fall. Preliminary results are to be presented at the fall FERIC advisory meeting on October 7th. The final analysis will be presented as an Advantage Report and a Master of Science thesis in the fall of 2009.