The
TIDE project has begun its field season, adding extra nutrients to a tidal creek and comparing its behavior with other creeks (which are not 'nutrient-enriched'). The project was initially started to look at how the ecosystem in a marsh would respond to increased nutrient levels (for example due to fertilizers washing off of agricultural land). The TIDE team noticed a geomorphological response going on too - plants are really important in the soil structure of marshes, so if the plants grow differently, the soils might behave differently and the landscape may change shape. This was what instigated the LENS project being proposed (and funded).
Anyway, before the TIDE team began their arduous work in Rowley marsh, we helped them put together the tank they use to deliver the fertilizer to the marsh - it involved electric screwdriver-drills and balancing stuff - how could we say no?
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| Sir David Samuel Johnson (PhD) of the Marsh gives instruction to Zoe as to how to screw the big platform.... |
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| Carol coverts the MBL drills.... |
Building a huge (camouflaged) wooden structure on a very flat marsh is actually quite enjoyable and it made up for the fact that we had had a terrible day. It was actually Good Friday but we had to rename it Bad Friday after Zoe lost a piece of the shear vane. An important part. So we got very little done on Bad Friday except some elevation surveys and, of course, installing the tank.
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| Kate totally rules |
Kate was very pleased with the tank. And we celebrated with some group portraits - although I am pretty sure someone promised me a mimosa.... hmmm....
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| Hat shot (to celebrate completion of the tank). You might not be able to tell, but the tank is camouflaged... |
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| Collapse shot, in remembrance of the missing part of the shear vane. |
