Category
Field research platforms
Capabilities
The Heathland Climate Change Experiment consists of a total of 9 experimental plots: 3 untreated controls, 3 drought and 3 warming plots. Climate treatments are imposed with retractable roofs covering the heathland vegetation in 4 m x 5 m plots. Each plot is fully instrumented with soil moisture and temperature sensors. A meteorological station on the site measures air temperature, rainfall and wind properties. Data are automatically telemetered half-hourly. Gas flux measurements are made every month, and vegetation and soil samples are taken periodically to address specific research questions.
Lifecycle
The Heathland Climate Change Experiment at Clocaenog was established in 1999.
Uniqueness
The Heathland Climate Change Experiment at Clocaenog is the longest running warming and drought experiment of its type in Wales, and one of the longest running in the UK and globally, and provided important information for recent publications in the science journal Nature. Whereas most other EU or global sites are on mineral soils, Clocaenog has a thin layer (up to 17 cm depth) of carbon-rich soil on bedrock, making easier to study the effects of climate change on soil physical processes, biology and chemistry.
Partners
The Heathland Climate Change Experiment is operated by UKCEH on Forestry Commission / Natural Resources Wales land within a wind park (and so requires additional access consent).
Access
The Heathland Climate Change Experiment may be available for use by other research organisations, usually in collaboration with UKCEH, subject to access consent: initial enquiries via Bridget Emmett at UKCEH Bangor. Data are available via the UKCEH Environmental Information Data Centre (EIDC).
Location
The Heathland Climate Change Experiment is located at Clocaenog Forest, straddling Denbighshire and Conwy in North Wales.
Funding sources
The Heathland Climate Change Experiment is funded by the UKRI/NERC National Capability (LTSS): UK-SCAPE programme (SOC_D); plus EU and UKRI research project grants.
Users
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Users of the Heathland Climate Change Experiment include: UKCEH scientists; visiting researchers; researchers in EU and global networks.
Scale
Area, city, farm, habitat
Last updated
28 April 2022 13:26
