In the Heat of the Moment: Fine-Scale Temperature Differences Across A Topographically Complex Jack Pine Barrens
Taylor Towne, James Wholey, Meghan Bargabos, and Mark Lesser
Center for Earth and Environmental Science, SUNY Plattsburgh
Introduction
The Altona Flat Rock, located in Northern New York, is a rare Jack Pine Barren which rests at its most southern ecotone, or ecological border. Because of this, it is vulnerable, and there is some concern for the regeneration and growth of jack pine (Pinus banksiana) if climate change leads to an increase in temperatures across the Flat Rock. Before we can study how temperature differences are affecting jack pine, it was crucial that we understand its temperature gradients and how topography plays a role here. Specifically, within the temperature variance, we were curious to see if elevation, aspect, or slope are influencing said variation.
Methods
To study the relationship between fine-scale temperature and topography at the Flat Rock, we established a network of twenty 1km2 grid-cells spanning the Flat Rock and surrounding hardwood forest. Ibutton temperature sensors were positioned in the center of each grid cell to monitor temperature every 4 hours beginning on November 10 2022, and operating continuously until February 4 2024. We calculated daily minimum, maximum and mean temperature for each sensor and used a 1m resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) to determine elevation, aspect, and slope at each location.
Modeling
Using R software, we conducted ANOVA tests between the topographical features and monthly temperature values in order to understand which features were significant to temperature variance. For each month, the best model was created out of 7 possible models. These were separated into elevation, slope, aspect, elevation with aspect, elevation with slope, slope with aspect, and elevation with slope and aspect. This provided us with 26 significant models of the 36.
Results
Results show that Ibutton elevations ranged from 170 to 305 m, and that average temperatures ranged from 6.2 to 11.2℃. Minimum and maximum temperatures ranged from -24.4 to -9.8℃, and 23.3 to 28.3 ℃ respectively. It was also found that elevation and aspect were the most scientifically significant topographical factors to temperature within the Flat Rock.
