Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Mapping of Changes in Forest Maturity from 2013 to 2020 Along an Alluvial Terrace in the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Chemistry & Geology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Jessica Moon, PhD.
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
The Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge (CRNWR) contains a multitude of geomorphological landforms that center around freshwater wetlands and an alluvial system. There are also areas within CRNWR that can be characterized by a dominating vegetative species. This study aimed to look at an alluvial terrace environment that is situated adjacent to the floodplain of the Dunn Slough Creek. The study site can be split into two areas dominated by either a Post Oak (Quercus Stellata) forest or a Cherry Bark Oak (Quercus Pagoda) forest to see how forest maturity and structure has changed from 2013 to 2020. LiDAR Point Cloud Data sourced from KyFromAbove- Kentucky’s Elevation Data & Aerial Photography Program, where the first phase of data was collected in 2013 and the second phase of data were collected in 2020, served as the dataset for this project. The data was processed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s FUSION/LDV LiDAR processing and visualization software. By looking at 3D models of the LiDAR Point Cloud Data to see and measure changes in canopy structure and canopy height, we can infer how forest maturity has changed over time for the two different dominant forest types. The two main areas of interest are also being studied in a larger Department of Energy (DoE) funded project examining greenhouse gas emissions in humid, subtropical forests.
Spring Scholars Week 2023 Event
Sigma Xi Poster Competition
Mapping of Changes in Forest Maturity from 2013 to 2020 Along an Alluvial Terrace in the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge
The Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge (CRNWR) contains a multitude of geomorphological landforms that center around freshwater wetlands and an alluvial system. There are also areas within CRNWR that can be characterized by a dominating vegetative species. This study aimed to look at an alluvial terrace environment that is situated adjacent to the floodplain of the Dunn Slough Creek. The study site can be split into two areas dominated by either a Post Oak (Quercus Stellata) forest or a Cherry Bark Oak (Quercus Pagoda) forest to see how forest maturity and structure has changed from 2013 to 2020. LiDAR Point Cloud Data sourced from KyFromAbove- Kentucky’s Elevation Data & Aerial Photography Program, where the first phase of data was collected in 2013 and the second phase of data were collected in 2020, served as the dataset for this project. The data was processed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s FUSION/LDV LiDAR processing and visualization software. By looking at 3D models of the LiDAR Point Cloud Data to see and measure changes in canopy structure and canopy height, we can infer how forest maturity has changed over time for the two different dominant forest types. The two main areas of interest are also being studied in a larger Department of Energy (DoE) funded project examining greenhouse gas emissions in humid, subtropical forests.