Our second field season began with ambition and excitement. We were all ready to continue the data collection which began last summer, as well as set up some new sites and relocate our eddy covariance tower. However, the notorious Alberta wildfire season had something else in mind...
Before we get there, let me introduce you to our cast of researchers for the season: the field team consisted of returning Masters students Joseph and Veronica, alongside returning undergraduate assistant Rakshit, and two new co-op students Emma and Kiera. Julia also joined us from Germany for the season to complete data collection for her Masters and Carissa began research for her PhD.
The month of May started off as planned. All of our student researchers made their way to Fort McMurray from their various homes across Canada. Research at the Aspen field site began without a hitch. Joseph began installing new piezometers, Veronica installed gas chamber collars on the stockpile, and Julia was scouting sites for some lysimeters. The IRGASON was put back up for measuring CO2 and H2O gases and Carissa made it out to the field for the first time.
But then, just before the PIs and research technicians were supposed to arrive for a site tour and research planning day, a wildfire in the South of Fort McMurray began to grow. It was so concerning and so close to the town, that part of Fort McMurray was evacuated, and our team decided to voluntarily evacuate shortly afterwards. Though no major evacuation occurred, and shortly thereafter, the wildfire was under control, the first month of field work was gone. So, we began planning for June.
June was centered around productivity, and after a month of wildfires and smoke, some intense rain was welcomed. What was not expected however, was the snowstorm that occurred in early June!
After recovering from the cold, our team set out to continue with data collection. A lot of progress was made, with more installations from Joseph and Julia and many gas flux measurements made by Veronica, Emma and Kiera.
In July, our team continued with data collection, with Carissa revisiting northern Alberta and completing vegetation surveys. Data collection continued, until a wildfire close to our site prompted an evacuation of all non-essential personnel. Our research was on hold until the wildfire was under control.
August promised good weather, with little rain or smoke. Our team was able to complete data collection and even pursue the installation of two 5m tall eddy covariance towers! This was quite an undertaking, occupying a full week of long days.
Joseph was able to complete some soil sampling at the end of the month, while Rakshit worked on vegetation surveys.
Now, with good weather on the horizon, our team plans to winterize the site for the remainder of the year. Now, we will look forward to next summer!
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