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The MAB Program United States of America

 

 

Biosphere Reserve Conservation ActivitiesAquatic Research, River Gorge, TN.

Southern Appalachian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

University of Tennessee grad student, Sara Jawdy, is shown monitoring soil respiration with special instrumentation developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory researcher Nelson Edwards. Field and laboratory experiments and new model analyses have demonstrated the need for accurate quantification of belowground carbon cycling processes. Here, a researcher uses time-domain reflectometry to measure soil moisture adjacent to an automated chamber for measuring soil respiration. The automated chambers provide a continuous flow of data on this important flux of CO2 from soil back to the atmosphere.

Grandfather Mountain (SAMAB) has 11 trails varying in difficulty from a gentle walk in the woods to a rigorous trek across rugged peaks. It is in the backcountry that you come up against the more challenging hikes. Grandfather's backcountry is very different from other areas in the South. Trails take you through forests usually found in Canadian climates. Many of the trails use ladders and cables to climb sheer cliff faces. Perhaps the most popular hike for families is the half-day trek to and from MacRae Peak. Every person that completes the one-mile hike out to MacRae comes back overwhelmed by the feeling of accomplishment. In fact, surveys show that visitors who choose this hike say that it was the one part of their day that added the most value to their visit.

Text Box: Research and Monitoring   Air quality Exotic species Human resources Geosciences Global environment Forest health Biodiversity Fresh water initiatives Threatened/endangered species Long-term ecosystem processes Landscape studies Environmental biotechnology Environmental assessment and education Geographic information systems (GIS) Sustainable development issues

Last updated: 08/11/2005

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