NSF – Global Fiducial Site Survey
Site Number/Name: Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES)
GFL No.:
Name:
State, Country: MD, USA
Priority: 1
Site designation(s): LTER
Other sponsoring/interested agencies, if any: NSF, USFS, NASA, USGS.
Location and size:
The study area encompasses the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) for Baltimore. This is an area of approximately 2250 square miles. The MSA includes the MD counties of Harford, Howard, Baltimore, Carroll, Anne Arundel, and Baltimore City.
The focus research area is the Gwynns Falls Watershed (GFWS), a 17,150 hectare (66 square miles) drainage located on the western site of Baltimore City and County. The maps below indicate both of these areas.
Map of Baltimore Ecosystem Study Site (MSA):
PLEASE DISREGARD SCALE IN FOLLOWING GRAPHIC
Map of Baltimore Ecosystem Study Site (Gwynns Falls Watershed):
USGS Quad:
Numerous (as listed, see map below)
Emmitsburg (NW edge), Taneytwn, Littlestown, Manchester, Lineboro, New Freedom, Norrisville, Fawn Grove, Delta, Conowingo Dam (NE edge), Woodsboro, Union Bridge, New Windsor, Westminster, Hampstead, Hereford, Phoenix, Jarrettsville, Bel Air, Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, Libertytown, Winfield, Finksburg, Reisterstown, Cockeysville, Towson, White Marsh, Edgewood, Perryman, Spesutie, Damascus, Woodbine, Sykesville, Ellicott City, Baltimore West, Baltimore East, Middle River, Gunpowder Neck, Hanesville, Sandy Spring, Clarksville, Savage, Relay, Curtis Bay, Sparrows Point, Beltsville, Laurel, Odenton, Round Bay, Gibson Island, Bowie, South River, Annapolis, Bristol, Deale, Lower Marlboro (SW edge), North Beach (SE edge)
Landsat Row and Path: Row 15, Path 33 (Landsat 5) (ID# LT5015033009832610)
Center: Landsat 5 scene center used. LAT: 38D 54M 04S (N), LNG: 76D 52M 15S (W)
NE corner: Landsat 5 scene used. LAT: 39D 28M 53S (N), LNG: 75D 34M 54S (W)
SE corner: Landsat 5 scene used. LAT: 38D 00M 21S (N), LNG: 76D 03M 41S (W)
SW corner: Landsat 5 scene used. LAT: 38D 18M 29S (N), LNG: 78D 08M 23S (W)
NW corner: Landsat 5 scene used. LAT: 39D 47M 24S (N), LNG: 77D 42M 08S (W)
Center elevation: 61 meters (200 feet) MSL (Based on Landsat 5 scene center used above)
Size (N-S x E-W):
MSA is 2250 approximately square miles (N-S = 77 miles x E-W= 68 miles)
Gwynns Falls Watershed is approximately 66 square miles (N-S= 17.2 miles x E-W= 13.6 miles)
NOTE: N-S/E-W distances were based on maximum extent of features, not actual area needed.
Resource to be monitored:
Principal biome/main communities: Eastern deciduous forest/ Suburban Agriculture fringe, urban parks, residential and commercial patches, riparian and stream habitats. Land cover and land use, soil, sediment (transport and analysis), vegetation, social dynamics and characteristics, hydrology, stream morphology, economic components, education components, forest composition and structure, air quality, and biodiversity.
Detailed description, management issues (e.g., ecosystem represented):
Research topics include: Patch dynamics of built, social, biological, and hydrological components of the metropolitan area; feedback's between social, economic, and ecological components of an urban ecosystem; effect of infrastructure and development on fluxes of nutrients, energy, and water in upland, stream, and coastal regions of metropolitan Baltimore. Long-term monitoring of urban ecosystem dynamics and elements.
Frequency and time(s) of collection: [six-week window]
[Seasonally: 4 x year in Jan, Mar, Jun, Sept]
Resolution/scale:
Existing data is from 1-foot to 30-meter resolution.
Special characteristics (spectral values, thermal anomalies, underwater/ground, etc.):
Urban site, need minimal cloud cover. Multi-spectral imagery acquisition is ideal.
Existing maps of area (digital?):
Numerous: Also have recent photography, AVIRIS and AVHRR imagery, and digital ortho-photos for site. For existing GIS data see the following web pages:
http://baltimore.umbc.edu/lter
http://baltimore.umbc.edu/mdnsdi
MEDEA sponsor (active/passive):
Sponsoring agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
NSF agency point of contact: [Alan M. Gaines, Scott L. Collins]
NSF site point of contact (current security clearance, if any):
[John Vande Castle, Security Clearance, YES]