The Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) is home to
many research projects. In 2012, NGEE Arctic joined a distinguished list of
projects being funded by multiple state and federal agencies. Now that list
expands to include the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). NEON is sponsored
by the National Science Foundation and is a continental-scale initiative that
provides long-term infrastructure for examining ecological change over time. We
have known for several years that NEON would deploy a monitoring site in Barrow
(and elsewhere in Alaska) and we are finally beginning to see evidence of that
deployment. Monitoring plots have been established, equipment and supplies have
arrived and are being assembled in Barrow, and trail mat is being strategically
placed to support scientists who will be coming and going from the field site
throughout the season.
Having laid several kilometers of trail mat over the last
4 years, I was intrigued by the sled-based system that NEON personnel have
devised to minimize the physical requirements of laying meter after meter of
walk way. Although I have not seen it in operation, I am told that staff can
connect the trail mat sections while standing up rather than bending or
kneeling down to place and secure cable ties that will hold the sections
together. Pretty creative…
