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Topic: homeschool field trip RAIN FALL RECORD (Read 779 times) previous topic - next topic

homeschool field trip RAIN FALL RECORD

wonder where all the rain went to?  Looking at this tree from each pulp ring to ring, you can see that somethng changed around 60 years ago.

each stick pin represents 5 years.

second pic of the boys in the same area where we were getting firewood.

homeschool field trip RAIN FALL RECORD

Reply #1 –
It's good to see that kids still sit on tree stumps to find their inner peace like we did back in the old days.LOL.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

homeschool field trip RAIN FALL RECORD

Reply #2 –
I'm just guessing here, but doesn't a tree generally show a faster growth rate in the first few years???? Of course this is assuming there wasn't a really bad drought season....

Tom

homeschool field trip RAIN FALL RECORD

Reply #3 –
There's a lot that could affect the growth of a tree - temperature, rainfall, surrounding forests, and even nearby construction. Good job teaching the kids about that stuff, Scott - I love stuff like that myself.

A good tree to look at the rings on is a poplar. Those things grow about a half inch in diameter every year, so they've got nice, big, and easily identified rings...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

homeschool field trip RAIN FALL RECORD

Reply #4 –
Quote from: TurboCoupe50;179791
I'm just guessing here, but doesn't a tree generally show a faster growth rate in the first few years???? Of course this is assuming there wasn't a really bad drought season....

Tom


Ive been searching for that answer for years.  Seems there isnt an agreed constant on new growth.  Some say the growth is slow on new saplings because they have to "fight for light" while others tend to lean on a tree will grow faster in the first few years.

Now notice in the background, the average size tree is about 24'' and less in diameter and all hardwood.  That tells me that clear cutting occured here in the early 19hundreds. 

That would also tell me that the "fight for light" prinl would not apply so the rings should be vibrant and wider even in a hard wood.
This would apply to the tree i have pictured.  The fight for light light was not present as it was a wide open field.
SO... it even more reenforces the "where did the rain go" because it is actually a perfect example of rainfall record.  The tree didnt have much competition in growing and when it did finally get to be a good size like 60years ago,, thats when the rain slowed back.

its very wiered.

If i had saw many trees in this forest ranging in sizes from ultra small to really huge, i would never use the stump as a guide because the rings would be tainted with the "fight for light" senerio.

the problem with this is that i have to compare several trees and plot it out.  Its too hard to find soft wood like poplar that would go back that far in record unless it were a yellow poplar.  A maple would be fine or even a white oak.  I can count pine out cause they grow like wild fire so we are likely going to find another stump and take readings on it in 5 year increments and compare.  The dumbass up on the mountain cut down the biggest walnut ive ever seen,, kind of made me sad but thats what happens.  His chainsaw was cutting really bad so i cant see the rings but it is a nice cut.  When we go back here this week, im bringing my sanding pad to buff it out.  I expect that walnut to be nearly 160 easy.  He'll get about 1500 bux easy for the 8' long butt log.

It would be neat for someone else to do the same in thier area and we could get a geographical perspective.  Its fire wood season anyway.  I didnt cut these trees down , i rarely do cut em down unless i cut lumber on my mill.  I usually go out to where the pulp wood loggers are and gather up what they arent gonna use like the tops ect.  ITs a waste to let all that good fire wood go to waste , and its better for the earth to just use the whole tree.  Some folks just drop a tree for firewood and if no one is logging and you dont have a sawmill around and no old growth has fallen, then i guess its no choice.  Ill usually hunt out already down trees.

homeschool field trip RAIN FALL RECORD

Reply #5 –
There's a poplar I cut down this past spring that's about 20" in diameter (yeah, poplar generally sucks for firewood, but it's good enough for the garage, especially when it's free :hick:). I've already chunked and split most of it but I left about 6' of trunk lying next to the fire pit at the camp to use as a bench because my cheap Poulan 18" chain saw was having a hard time cutting through it and my little electric wood splitter was having a hard time splitting it (that's a story in itself - I've got one of those $200 120-volt wood splitters, and it actually splits wood, including 18-19" diameter poplar and 12" diameter maple). Next time I'm at the camp I'll try to remember to get a pic of the rings.

I try to gather the leftovers in clearcuts as well. In addition to being wasteful to let perfectly good maple, oak, yellow and even white birch rot, it's also good on the wallet - they charge $150-$180/cord for firewood around here. I managed to gather about four cords of it up, and bought five cords so I could have some "good" wood and some free wood. I cut the poplar down at the camp because the ed things blow down so easily and it would have driven the camp into the ground had it landed on it.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

homeschool field trip RAIN FALL RECORD

Reply #6 –
one thing I find odd, is all the older quaking aspen (poplar) in my back 40 are snapping off about 10 feet up.  7 years ago, they were all ok.  3 years ago, still ok, these last 2 years where we've had really dry summers, the wind has been snapping them off left and right.

PS: I dig thru the slash piles myself.  Labor=cheaper heat.
1987 TC
 

homeschool field trip RAIN FALL RECORD

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Thunder Chicken;179916
a bench because my cheap Poulan 18" chain saw was having a hard time cutting through it and my little electric wood splitter was having a hard time splitting it (that's a story in itself -.


i know the feeling,, and when poplar gets dry, dont even bother trying to split it.  It will work your ass to death.  Its so soft, it just keeps on giving but not splitting.:hick: