Moorland Indicators of Climate Change Initiative
MICCI – Method for field experiments
Before heading out, familiarise yourself with the location on the map. At your site, take a
GPS reading and note the altitude (either from the GPS reading or the map). Put all your
results on the Field Record Sheet – it is a good idea to bring a clipboard with a rain cover or
clear plastic bag to keep off the rain. Pencils often work better than pens in wet weather, or
you could laminate the paper and use a permanent marker. For a more high tech solution
you can always use a phone or tablet to take notes and transfer the data when back at
school.
1. Carbon Export in Streams (DOC – dissolved organic carbon)
Introduction/ Rationale
One of the major losses of carbon from peatland is dissolved carbon in streams. Dissolved
Organic Carbon (DOC) gives peat streams their characteristic tea colour. DOC concentration
varies throughout the year being highest in the autumn when autumn storms flush dissolved
material which decomposed during the dry summer period. Increasing water colour (DOC) in
streams is a financial concern to water companies.
Apparatus and Materials
1.
2.
3.
4.
Clean sealable polythene 50 ml bottle (supplied).
Permanent marker pen, large jiffy bag and stamps/postage.
GPS position and altitude reading (altitude on GPS or map).
Camera
Method
1. Find the nearest stream.
2. Label the bottle with the site code (which we will give you), site name and school name
with the permanent marker. Do it twice in different places.
3. Write down the GPS position or grid reference and the altitude from the map. Take a
digital photo of the sample site and email them later to Chris Robinson – (see field record
sheet).
4. Rinse out the bottle a couple of times in the stream.
5. Fill the bottle taking care not to disturb the sediment. Make sure it is full to the brim and
contains no air bubbles. Fill the lid too and put the lid on quickly whilst the bottle is still
underwater. Squeeze the bottle slightly before tightening the lid to expel any trapped air.
6. Measure the depth of the stream at the sample site in mm and write it on the lid and your
recording sheet.
7. Measure stream pH levels if possible. National Park leaders will have equipment, but
bring your own if you have it. – (see purple sheet on pH)
Results
Send your bottle on the same day by post for lab analysis to:
Jonathan Yarwood
MICCI Samples
Geography Laboratories
School of Environment and Development
Arthur Lewis Building
University of Manchester M13 9PL
2. Water table
Introduction/ Rationale
Carbon balance of peatlands is very delicate and depends mainly on the water table. In
healthy blanket bogs, the water table should be close to the surface to maintain active
sequestration (carbon sink). If the water table drops then air gets into the peat and
decomposition starts (carbon source).
Apparatus and Materials
1.
2.
3.
4.
Metre rule
Towel to dry the above
Umbrella if it is raining
Dip wells are already installed; see diagram below.
Method
Using a metre rule, calculate the distance (in mm) between the surface of the water and the
level of the ground (measurement ‘c’ on diagram below). Record it on your field record sheet.
See diagram below.
Repeat for all three dip wells.
Metre rule
a Measure this!
Dip well
Surface of Peat
b Measure this!
Calculate this!c
a–b=c
Holes to let water in
Take care not to put the metre rule too far into the
water – if you do the water becomes displaced and
you will have an inaccurate reading.
Dip well for gauging water table
3. Soil Moisture (in the field)
Apparatus and Materials
Reseal-able polythene bags (must be water tight).
Method
Take a reasonable sample of peat > 500 ml approx, seal it in a plastic bag/ container and
take it back to school for the soil moisture test. The same sample can be used for the organic
content measurement as well.
4. Soil Moisture (back at school) – see separate sheet (green)
5. Soil Carbon Content (back at school) – see separate sheet (green)
6. Measuring water ph in the soil using the pH meter.
Introduction/Rationale
By measuring the pH of water on the bog surface and comparing it to the water in a flush,
differences can be seen between an ombrotrophic system (ie one fed only by rain water) and
a minerotrophic system (one where the water has been in contact with the mineral soil). The
latter should be less acidic.
Method
Use the heel of your boot to make a slight depression in the ground, allow this to fill up with
water and then measure the pH of that water sample. Repeat for the temperature and
conductivity if you can measure it.
7. Peat Depth and Vegetation Samples
Apparatus and Materials
Drainage rods, quadrates ½ metre, ID charts, metre rules, 30m tape measures,
canes or other markers.
Method
1. Using the most northerly dipwell as a reference point (see diagram below), mark out a
30m X 30m quadrate and subdivide it into 10m squares. Use the drainage rods to
measure the depth of peat at each of the 16 intersections and record the depths in
the table provided (i.e. A1, A2, B1, B2, etc)
2. Standing at the most northerly dipwell take a photograph pointing the camera exactly
North West towards D4.
3. Place a ½ metre quadrate at each of the 16intersections, see field record sheet and
record the vegetation at this site.
Diagram of field study area – for North WestQuadrant.
When surveying other quadrants, the northern-most dipwell is always at A1; B,C, and
D always remain on E/W axis, and numbers 1,2,3,4 remain on N/S axis.
4
N
3
30m
2
1
D
C
10
20
B
A
30m
2014 - SW Quadrant
2015 – NW Quadrant
2016 – NE Quadrant
2017 – SE Quadrant
2018 - SW Quadrant
2019 – NW Quadrant
A
30
The most northerly dipwell
1.
Push the drainage rods into the peat and measure the depth at all 16 sites, and
complete a vegetation survey at all 16 sites (see section 10 for details).
8. Soil Temperature
Use a soil spike to create a hole and insert the soil thermometer. This avoids damaging the
thermometer. Leave the thermometer for a few minutes to adjust before taking a reading.
9. Soil pH – see separate sheet (purple)
10. Vegetation survey
Do 16 quadrats within the 30m X 30m survey area at each of the intersections using a 0.5m2
quadrat.
Estimate the percentage cover of each of species on the field record sheet. Include an
estimate of the percentage of bare ground within the quadrate too. Don’t forget that your total
can add up to more than 100%.Make sure that the marker peg is in the centre of the quadrat.
You will also need to estimate the percentage of bare ground within a 20m radius of the most
northerly dipwell. Spread people out evenly along the length of a 20m tape, with one person
holding the end of the tape and everyone else holding the tape up. Walk slowly in a circle
around the centre person (who is holding the end of the tape), and call out when you walk
over any bare ground. Once the complete circle has been described, estimate the total
percentage of bare ground.
11. The Weather today
Please complete the OPAL climate survey. (If you have a copy)
Follow up
We would also like you to tell us how you got on at school helping to raise other people's
understanding of the link between global warming and moorland. So take lots of pictures and
record your thoughts while you enjoy your day out on the beautiful moorland landscape near
your school.
Thank you for helping us with this project