Woodland Response and Resilience in a Changing Environment
LOCATION
John Dalton Building
Chester Street
Manchester
Greater Manchester
M1 5GD
United Kingdom
SPEAKER | Rob MacKenzie (University of Birmingham.
ABSTRACT | Our woodlands are an important part of the ecological system, one which is constantly changing in response to external stimuli, whether that is environmental change, or outbreaks of pests or diseases. The Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) was set up to provide a world-class facility aimed at improving our understanding of how woodlands will respond to future increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), including effects on forest growth and resilience to external threats. This has involved building a "second-generation" Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experiment, set in a mature, unmanaged, temperate woodland in Staffordshire. The experiment was switched on in April 2017, and will run for the next 15 years, subjecting the trees to elevated CO2 concentrations of 550 parts per million (ppm) through the whole period, simulating conditions predicted for 2050. Professor Rob MacKenzie will talk about the setting up and operation of this facility, including the practicalities of delivering consistent elevated CO2 concentrations in a 30 m wide, 25 m tall, open-air laboratory. He will also discuss the knowledge gained from the “first-generation” of forest FACE experiments, on how young forest plantations are affected by increasing atmospheric CO2, and how the information and knowledge that will be gathered from this facility will improve our climate projections and evalute the risks to forest ecosystems that we might face.
Venue Information
Refreshments are available from 5.30pm. The meeting starts at 6.00pm and will take place in Room C0.14, John Dalton Building.
Please note that there is limited on-road parking and multi-story car parking facilities around the Manchester Campus. The use of public transport is encouraged. See here for more information >>
Registration
Registration has closed.
This meeting is part of the Royal Meteorological Society Meetings programme, open to all, from expert to enthusiast, for topical discussions on the latest advances in weather and climate.
SPEAKER | Rob MacKenzie (University of Birmingham.
ABSTRACT | Our woodlands are an important part of the ecological system, one which is constantly changing in response to external stimuli, whether that is environmental change, or outbreaks of pests or diseases. The Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) was set up to provide a world-class facility aimed at improving our understanding of how woodlands will respond to future increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), including effects on forest growth and resilience to external threats. This has involved building a "second-generation" Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experiment, set in a mature, unmanaged, temperate woodland in Staffordshire. The experiment was switched on in April 2017, and will run for the next 15 years, subjecting the trees to elevated CO2 concentrations of 550 parts per million (ppm) through the whole period, simulating conditions predicted for 2050. Professor Rob MacKenzie will talk about the setting up and operation of this facility, including the practicalities of delivering consistent elevated CO2 concentrations in a 30 m wide, 25 m tall, open-air laboratory. He will also discuss the knowledge gained from the “first-generation” of forest FACE experiments, on how young forest plantations are affected by increasing atmospheric CO2, and how the information and knowledge that will be gathered from this facility will improve our climate projections and evalute the risks to forest ecosystems that we might face.
Venue Information
Refreshments are available from 5.30pm. The meeting starts at 6.00pm and will take place in Room C0.14, John Dalton Building.
Please note that there is limited on-road parking and multi-story car parking facilities around the Manchester Campus. The use of public transport is encouraged. See here for more information >>
Registration
Registration has closed.
This meeting is part of the Royal Meteorological Society Meetings programme, open to all, from expert to enthusiast, for topical discussions on the latest advances in weather and climate.