StemRays Air Quality

Anne Bussler and the STEMRAYS clubs at

Conway and Whately

2007-2008

Forest devastation in Poland

New England lies directly downwind of major urban and industrial centers in the eastern United States.

Map of common storm tracks across the United States.

Students & Scientists Working Together

Determining the Health of New England Forests

Forest Watch

Bridging Science and Education Through Ground-Truth Studies of White Pine Stands

Forest Watch offers students and teachers authentic opportunities in science by participating

in on-going research to assess the health of forests in New England.

Schools set-up permanent sampling plots and conduct several ecological and biophysical

measurements in white pine stands, looking for signs of ground-level ozone damage and other

forest health concerns.

Examining white pine needles

Measuring the height of trees

Getting samples from top of trees

Sample collection

White pine branches are cut from the north and south sides of each tree

for lab analysis and spectral analysis

Fascicles are removed for identification of ozone

symptoms on the needles (white pine has fascicles of

five needles)

MagnificationTree

Branch

Needle

Needle Cross

Section

4 m

25 mm

0.5 mm

1.5 mm

From The Macroscope to the

Microscope

0xygen: PhotosynthesisWater: Evapotranspiration

VOC’s, ie: Resins

Carbon Dioxide: Photosynthesis

Ozone & Other pollutants

A visit to Smith College

Making airplanes from Styrofoam

Flying the airplanes at Smith College

Collecting airborne particulates

Collecting airborne particulates

Comparing plant growth

Preparing a poster for the STEMRAYS conference

Presentation at the STEMRAYS conference

Presentation at the STEMRAYS conference

Presentation at the STEMRAYS conference