Washington Prairie Heats Up for Climate Change Study
An experiment under way in the prairies of South Puget Sound this summer aims to shed light on the potential threats of climate change.
Researchers from the University of Oregon have created a series of climate-controlled circles of prairie vegetation on Conservancy land. Using infrared heating lamps, they’re heating half of these plots to temperatures that reflect climate change projections for the next century.
Using rainwater collected on-site, sprinklers are being used to simulate rainfall, which is expected to increase in winter and give way to drought in the summer as temperatures rise.
(image: © 2007 Keith Lazelle Nature Photography)
Tags: adaptation, drought, prairie, rainfall, science, South Puget Sound, Tenalquot Prairie, The Nature Conservancy, University of Oregon, Washington State
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