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Last Modified: 01/20/07

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Overview/Objectives

Research Objectives:

    1. To observe and differentiate natural biogeochemical and biological variability from human-caused disturbance in alpine and subalpine ecosystems through intensive long- term study.

    2. To understand and better quantify the role of climatic variability, particularly changes in precipitation and temperature, on alpine and subalpine processes.

    3. To apply new and better methods to the addressing of the role of climate on winter snow accumulation, redistribution, and melt processes.

    4. Estimate potential ecosystem change induced by changes in climate due to regional land use change and/or globally-increasing greenhouse gases.

Program Objectives

    1. To share results and information on real and potential threats to natural alpine and subalpine resources with the public, scientific community, and air, water, and land managers.

    2. To apply information gained in Rocky Mountain National Park to other NPS and federally-managed lands in Colorado, nationwide, and worldwide.

    3. To offer a program of graduate education and research that develops future scientists and knowledgeable resource managers.

    4. To continue the Loch Vale Watershed long-term ecological research project as a successful example of ecosystem study design, interdisciplinary collaboration, long-term continuity of quality-assured data collection, data base management, and better applied natural resource management.