No, not the lights but the the National Science Foundation’s National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). It is a thirty year project funded by the NSF (National Science Foundation). In the last couple of weeks, Jeanne and I ran into several of NEON people at the grasslands. This is one of the 86 sites across the US. NEON delivers hundreds of data products including organismal counts and measurements, water quality, energy fluxes, and remotely sensed vegetation indices. Data are free and open for all.
Also please do not disturb any equipment that you may see on the grasslands as this sign requests.
Here is a debris catcher.. Usually placed under or near a tree. On First Wednesday, we talked with NEON field techs, Kristen and Julie that confirmed what we had surmised about this. They were conducting a vegetation survey nearby and will return multiple times to the same locations.
Cows and other large herbivores are excluded by this enclosure. NEON measures the biomass by cutting, then weighing, and identifying what was inside.
Flags marked corners on plots for the vegetation survey.
So each one had a numbered tag.
A fancy rain bucket! There are two outer fences (green) and then the aluminum thingies closest to the “bucket”. The fence and the thingies block the wind so they get a more accurate reading.
The fancy rain bucket!
The power and information goes up the hill to here.
The path to the tower. Another NEON person told us that the path was made winding so as not to create a wind tunnel. Plus minimum damage to the vegetation to carry in the equipment to the tower.
A ramp that leads to the tower.
Lots of equipment to take wind, rain, and other data!
Do you want to learn more about NEON? Visit their website for more info! Furthermore, I have contacted the office in Denton. And hopefully a presentation and a follow-up field trip next spring at the grasslands! Certainly that would be fun! So stay tuned.
I thoroughly enjoyed our hike on Wednesday. Earlier this fall I met a TPWD ranger who had worked as a field researcher for NEON. She told me about this extensive NEON site but couldn’t tell me how to find it. Therefore, I was thrilled to visit the site with you.
NEON. Thats exciting. And one of only 86. Wow! Ive always known our grasslands are special.
I don’t think I’ve ever come across any of their equipment in all my visits. Very cool! Perhaps you can show me that tower sometime.
I bet we could arrange that 🙂
A cool tour!!
I thoroughly enjoyed our hike on Wednesday. Earlier this fall I met a TPWD ranger who had worked as a field researcher for NEON. She told me about this extensive NEON site but couldn’t tell me how to find it. Therefore, I was thrilled to visit the site with you.
Yep, there is some important data being collected. And I agree, it is neat to see in person.