John Hom1, Kenneth Clark1, Nicholas Skowronski1, Lewis Ziska2, Sue Grimmond3, Matthew Patterson1, and Ian Yesilonis1. (1) USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Newtown Square, PA 19073, (2) Crop Systems & Global Change , Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Building 1, Room 342, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705, (3) King's College, London, United Kingdom
This research will examine the carbon dynamics associated with major natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Carbon flux measurements and carbon dioxide concentrations were taken along an urban to rural gradient from Baltimore, MD, to the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The gradient incorporates the effects of land use, natural disturbances, and forest management in forested lands and heavily vegetated non-forest lands. The three towers in the Pine Barrens of NJ, monitors carbon flux under fire management and disturbance, going from a mixed overstory oak forest in the west, to a mature oak and pitch pine association, and reaches a mature pitch pine –scrub oak vegetation in the east. The Cub Hill tower in Baltimore, MD, is in a mixed deciduous forest, and monitors carbon dioxide concentrations and carbon flux in the urban/suburban environment. Results are presented showing the effects of anthropogenic cycles associated with the work week, prescribed burning, gypsy moth outbreak, climate variability and land use change.