Wednesday, July 29, 2009

day 3: sandflugtdalen, north vs. south slope sampling, and Lake Vulgaris


The day began at the KISS warehouse, home of our gear. The plan was to sample the large sand dune area (sandflugtdalen) to try and determine its origin and if there are layers of organic debris beneath the dunes. We botanized the area, took soil samples, and saw our first caribou!



A story in the sand. . . On the left are arctic hare tracks -- wide spacing indicates running. In the center are arctic fox tracks, also running in the same direction. On the right, fox tracks returning at a gentle trot, perhaps with a full belly?


Blueberries! We found Vaccinium uloginosum and Empertrum nigrum growing in the Sandflugtdalen (long sandy outwash from the glacier).


Fresh caribou scat, an exciting find. The caribou migrate to the coast as the summer draws to a close. The heavier precipitation of the coast provides greater quantities of lichens for the caribou.


Xiahong's big find on the way to Lake Vulgaris -- a young male muskox carcass. Only skin and bones remained, and arctic fox scat surrounded it. Kangerlussuaq is 150km inland.


Laura and Meredith core sediments in Lake Vulgaris (so named by us for the Hippurus vulgaris, aquatic vegetation growing along the lake margin). Notice the ice margin in the background.


Xiahong and Ross collecting soils on the dry, silty south facing slope near Lake Vulgaris. Although the day was sunny and clear and promised many more hours of light by which to work, we had to leave to field to make it to the 'kantine' by 6:30 for dinner.

2 comments:

  1. Same family of blueberries as in Cherryfield?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Um, aren't there bears where there are blueberries?? Be careful!

    ReplyDelete