UMBC
AN HONORS UNIVERSITY IN MARYLAND
CUERE
Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle 21250
Phone: 410-455-1761
Fax: 410-455-1769
E-mail: jra@umbc.ecu
http://www.umbc.edu/cuere
August 7, 2002
Dear Resident,
This summer, the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education at
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (CUERE-UMBC) and the United States
Forest Service initiated the Neighborhood Ecosystem Project around Cub Hill.
This study is part of a larger long-term study of ecosystems in Baltimore
known as the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES). The project is studying soil,
vegetation, air, and streams. The information that we collect will be used
for public policy decisions, improvement of urban environments, and education
including in public and private school curricula. We would like to discover
how our urban environment changes over time, how humans affect soil, vegetation,
air and stream conditions, and how the surrounding environment affects the
quality of our lives.
As part of this study, we will be making measurements of soil temperatures
and moisture at 15 locations in the vicinity of Cub Hill. This involves digging
a hole about 8 inches in diameter and 15 inches deep, inserting small temperature
and moisture sensors below ground, and then refilling the hole and replacing
the grass. The sensors connect to recording devices that continuously record
the temperatures and moisture. The recorders will be housed in boxes about
6” in diameter and 8” deep that will be installed near the sensors
and so that the tops of the boxes are flush with the ground. At some of the
15 locations we will also be installing tripods about 3 feet in diameter with
weather instruments. We plan to make the measurements over the course of about
a year. Technicians will need to come to the instruments occasionally to access
the data by computer.
Your property would be a possible site for these measurements. We would like
to have one of our field technicians stop by in the next few days to further
describe the measurement systems and see if you would be interested in being
involved by allowing measurements to be made in your yard. If measurements
were made on your property we would provide summaries of the data and copies
of any publications that result. Individual homes will not be mentioned in
publications without homeowners’ permission.
If you have any questions about the ecosystem study or the results of the
soil investigation please call Jonathan Russell-Anelli at (410) 455-1761.
The information that we are collecting will help us to better understand and
improve Baltimore’s urban environment. We look forward to talking with
you.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Russell-Anelli
Field Supervisor