Background-
See Lab One for insight into the current analysis of land cover use and change on a local scale, specifically on a single site. In the first two labs carried out (see LabTwo for further gatherings), we looked into the way in which an ecosystem’s patterns are disrupted by increased urbanization and development, specifically in a suburban neighborhood in which little remains recognizable after eighty years. Now that we have gathered information on temperature, humidity, and ground cover of this single, highly manipulated area of the Southwest Portland area, we can compare that to other various locations in the area to carry out an analysis of possible influences we have had on the ecosystem, on a local scale. This form of study and analysis is similar to the larger spatial scales often seen in publications that research shifting global outcomes, only it provides us with an up-close look at the tangible changes of “our ecosystem” (the very place where we live and work).
Twelve various land-cover sites were analyzed within the region of Southwest Portland shown above (four at Lewis and Clark College, four in River View Natural Area, and four in the Collins View neighborhood.
Shown is a refresher on the land cover site specifically explored in Labs 1 and 2, thus being compared today with other varying land cover sites (latitude of 45.4533 and longitude of -122.6871 degrees).
Procedure and Analysis-
In compiling various data from twelve different land cover in the Southwest Portland, 97219 area, we were able to see some considerable differences in temporal variations, in possible correlation with land cover changes, based on what seems to be due to urbanization (or lack thereof). We did so by averaging the data gathered from the four sites within each of the three types of land use areas (a college campus, a natural area, and a suburban neighborhood). While the temperatures and humidities of all remained rather similar at average, there was an obvious fluctuation in the temperature of more developed/manipulated areas, versus those that were rather undisturbed, which kept much more stagnant. All four sites within the River View Natural Area had relatively low highs and high lows, resulting in a much smaller range of temperature and humidity readings than that of Collins View or Lewis and Clark. Meanwhile, Lewis and Clark’s campus locations seemed to consistently stay warmer than other locations, while RVNA held consistently cooler temperatures. This data seems to support the previous data gathered from our specific land cover site in the Collins View neighborhood (see Lab One to review specific data for said site), where temperature and humidity experienced one of the highest ranges measured. Urbanization was as apparent and significant here as that of the school’s campus. Also referencing our original land cover site in addition to the other three sites in the Collins View neighborhood, this demographic had shorter trees overall, and much lower ground cover percentages, meaning that growth there was less developed, and further manipulated than other areas.
Results-
Discussion-
In carrying out the various steps and levels of observation and analysis, I have concluded that while our results seem accurate, and in accordance with other studies, such as this case study of Hawalbagh block, district Almora, Uttarakhand, India, I would like to carry out further analysis throughout the Portland metro area as a whole, in addition to more diverse levels of urbanization. The levels of increasing urbanization (specifically things like asphalt) and increasing temperature/humidity variations seem to have direct correlation, but I would also like to look more in to how much elevation is a factor here. Nonetheless, this study gave us insight into how data on land use and cover change is gathered, and what variables we do have some control of, in order to carry out a more accurate study. This form of research seemed to display a reliable pattern that could help identify climate changes in various ecosystems across countries, and worldwide.