The Madison-Hills Paleoecology Project ("MPEP")

Introduction

The MPEP is a privately funded endeavor that will drill and sample the layers of soft sediment that have accumulated in the deepest part of Big Pea Porridge Pond ("BPPP") in Madison, New Hampshire during the past +/- 14,000 years. The purpose of the work is to scientifically analyze, technically describe/catalogue, and radiocarbon/proxy date these progressively deposited materials to establish the ecologic change-sequence history of the Pond's basin since the departure of the last ice sheet. The work described above will begin in late January or early February 2008 and be completed by late Spring or Summer 2008.

Scientific Basis of the MPEP

Lake-bottom sediments represent the most continuously detailed records of post-glacial (Pleistocene to Holocene) climate and environmental change available, and such records provide the best long term context for the dramatic physical and biological/ecological changes that have occurred during what has become to be known as the "Anthropocene" period (time since the beginning of extensive human habitation).

Who's Involved

The scientific staff of MPEP includes the following individuals, all of whom are donating their professional expertise to the project:

P. Thompson Davis, Ph.D., Dept. of Natural & Applied Sciences, Bentley College.
Brian Fowler, Quaternary Scientist, Project Director.
Lee Pollock, Ph.D., Dept. of Biology, Drew University.
Lisa Doner, Ph.D., Center for the Environmental, Plymouth State University



Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Project Social Event No. 1

Mark Sat., Feb. 23, on your calendar if you want to "get the scoop" (no, this is not the coring date) on the radar survey to determine the pond-bottom topography where the coring may take place. The crew doing the radar survey will start early morning and go all day. If you'd like to get the latest project info, updates on the survey, a tour of the work area, hot drinks, donut holes, and to talk with your neighbors about the project, you can come to the Pollocks between 9:30 and 11:30. For last minute questions about the weather, etc. call Betsy @ 447-5077 or Sylvia, 447-2333. Otherwise, please post your comments and/or questions on the blog.
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

SO This means you will find my dads 20 ft. ladder 100 yards off your property from when I fell through the ice in the fall of 1975.

I am also looking for two pair of Vaurnet sunglasses and a very very big rock that I have heard about fifty feet off the island point.

I look forward to your findings.

david

February 15, 2008 at 3:47 PM

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