"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." 

——Lao Tzu (an ancient Chinese philosopher)

At the summer of 2016, I started my master’s degree project on carbon and water coupling at leaf and individual tree levels in a natural young lodgepole pine stand in southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. (Click here for more detailed introduction on this project). I have kept track of my research progresses in the journal. I believe that every effort pays off!

In 2016: 

Journal 1 – May, 31, 2016 – Selecting experimental site

Journal 2- June 1, 2016 – Establishing three blocks

Journal 3 – June 7, 2016 – Cutting trees by loppers!

Journal 4 – June, 14 and 16, 2016 – Still cutting trees…but…with chainsaw

Journal 5 – June 23 to July 1, 2016 – LICOR 6400 training in China.

Journal 6 – July 12 and 14, 2016 – Set up sap flow probes and datalogger

Journal 7 – July 19 and 21, 2016 – Set up soil moisture probes and band dendrometers

Journal 8 – July 29, 2016 – Set three climate stations

Journal 9 – August, 3, 2016 – tree DBH and height measurement, soil moisture probe set-up and band dendrometer set-up

Journal 10 – August, 10, 2016 – Tour guide and presentation

Journal 11 – August, 26, 2016 – Batteries of 6400 died!

Journal 12 – September, 14, 2016 – Light and temperature response curves

Journal 13 – September, 23, 2016 – Rain! Measurement suspended!

Journal 14 – September, 28, 2016 – Different photosynthesis pattern

Journal 15 – October, 18, 2016 – Take some equipment back!

Journal 16 – October, 28, 2016 – Sunny day is not a good day!

Journal 17 – November, 04, 2016 – The end of field work in 2016

In 2017: 

Journal 18 – May, 26, 2017 – Check the condition of experimental site

Journal 19 – June, 09, 2017 – My experiment of 2017 begun!

Journal 20 – June, 14, 2017 – New problems: wired sap flux pattern, disconnection and broken sensors

Journal 21 – June, 23, 2017 – Measuring photosynthesis and stomatal conductance at Block 1

Journal 22 – June, 29, 2017 – Bear and missing battery

Journal 23 – July, 7, 2017 – caliper is stuck!

Journal 24 – July, 12, 2017 – first time completed soil moisture measurement

Journal 25 – July, 21, 2017 – photosynthsis at B3 and soil moisture

Journal 26 – July, 31, 2017 – fire risks

Journal 27 – August, 10, 2017 – Friends are good field assistants!

Journal 28 – August, 17, 2017 – New student join in my research!

Journal 29 – September, 9, 2017 – a unfortunate rain…

Journal 30 – September, 14, 2017 – soil moisture probe

Journal 31 – September, 28, 2017 – New visiting scholar joins in!

Journal 32 – October, 09, 2017 – tree cores and the end of the field work!