G. Bruce Wiersma

Ecosystem monitoring at global baseline sites

Integrated ecosystem and pollutant monitoring is being conducted at prototype global baseline sites in remote areas of the Noatak National Preserve, Alaska, the Wind River Mountains, Wyoming, and Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. A systems approach has been used in the design of these projects. This approach includes: (1) evaluation of source-receptor relationships, (2) multimedia (i.e., air, water, soil, biota) monitoring of key contaminant pathways within the environment, (3) the use of selected ecosystem parameters to detect anthropogenic influence, and (4) the application of a systems conceptual framework as a heuristic tool.Initial short-term studies of air quality (e.g. SO2, NO2) plus trace metal concentrations in mosses generally indicate pristine conditions at all three of the above sites as expected although trace metals in mosses were higher at the Wyoming site. Selected ecosystem parameters for both terrestrial (e.g. litter decomposition) and aquatic (e.g. shredders, a macroinvertebrate functional feeding group) habitats at the Wyoming site reflected baseline conditions when compared to other studies.Plans also are being made to use U.S. Department of Energy Research Parks for global change monitoring. This will involve cross-site analyses of existing ecological databases and the design of a future monitoring network based on a systems approach as outlined in this paper.

Application of simple models to the design of environmental monitoring systems: A remote site test case

This paper discusses the use of simple kinetic models to help design environmental monitoring programs. A process is described in which modeling results and field measurements are used in an iterative manner in the development of a monitoring program. An example of this process is presented for a study site located in Glacier National Park. The elements under study were lead, zinc, and copper; all of which have both natural and potential anthropogenic origins. Field measurements are compared to a series of refinements of the original planning model. The utility of the approach for environmental monitoring programs is discussed, with particular emphasis on the relation between modeling activities, monitoring systems design and field sampling efforts.

Issues in Global Environmental Monitoring

A recent study by the National Academy of Sciences indicated that man’s activities definitely have an impact on the face of the Earth. Ten percent of the entire land surface is used for cultivation to grow crops and 30 percent of the Earth’s land surface is under some form of use by man. Prior to the dawn of the industrial age when we substituted machines for human and animal power, our ability to influence our global neighbors was limited but at the time of the industrial revolution and at an accelerating pace since then, our activities can influence our neighbors thousands of kilometers away from us.