Dataset: Red Spruce Winter Injury Assessment Mansfield Plot Locations

Methods

The methods followed in the creation of the dataset, including description of field, laboratory and processing steps, and quality control procedures

Current Methods

• 
  
  

  The plantation contains 443 red spruce trees from 12 provenances, with seed sources extending from NC to Quebec.

• Injury rating
  
  

  For all locations, injury was scored by two observers as a visual estimate of the proportion of current-year foliage discolored on a 0-10 scale, with a score of 1 representing 1%-10% injury, a score of 2 representing 11%-20% injury, etc.

• 
  
  

  Winter injury data for individual trees were used to calculate site-based yearly means.

• Weather data
  
  

  Daily and monthly weather data (minimum, maximum and departures in monthly/seasonal temperature, precipitation, snowfall, snow depth and associated measures) from 1980-2004 from the First Connecticut Lake weather station were obtained from the National Climatic Data Center.

• Core collection and processing
  
  

  Xylem increasement cores were collected for trees in the Colebrook plantation and the 23 regional winter injury assessment plots on 88 trees. Cores were mounted and sanded and annual xylem increments were microscopically measured.

• 
  
  

  Hydrogen ion, ammonium, and nitrate wet deposition data were obtained from the US Environmental Protection Agency National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network.

• Precipitation and volume
  Started: 1980-01-01
  

  Precipitation volume and pH are recorded on an event basis.

• Rain and snow collection
  
  

  Rainfall is intercepted by a funnel and passes through a length of tygon tubing until it reaches and is collected in a one gallon jug. Snow is collected and melted indoors to completely melt before pH is measured.

Past Methods (No longer in use)

• Winter injury assessment
  Started: 2003-06-01
  Ended: 2003-05-01

  Winter injury was assessed between April and June of 2003 on native red spruce at 27 locations in VT, NH, MA, and NY.
• Winter injury assessment
  Started: 2003-06-01
  Ended: 2003-05-01

  Winter injury was assessed between April and June of 2003 on native red spruce at 27 locations in VT, NH, MA, and NY.

Dataset Fields

Detailed documentation of the fields comprising the dataset, including the type of measurement, units where applicable, and any controlled vocabularies or code lists present in the data

Sampling Equipment

Equipment and software used to collect data, including how that equipment was used.

Site Characteristics

The spatial extent of the dataset site coverage, and descriptions of the spatial extent and context for the data collection

• Site Description

  27 locations in VT, NH, MA, and NY. See data table for Vermont locations

  Minimum Altitude: 1537 feet

  Maximum Altitude: 3988 feet