Author Archives: aby113

Kashimayarigatake

IMG_7080 StitchAfter waiting for a week for the typhoon to pass we headed out into field the next day (August 11th).  Though I am sure there was damage from the typhoon in some parts of Japan, were we were and where we were going the weather was fine.

We took the train (Otio Line) from Matsumoto to Shinano-Omachii Station (40 min North) and then boarded a bus to Ogizawa. Most of our fellow bus riders were on their way to the Tateyama Kurobo Alpine Route, which is a tunnel, gondola, cable car and bus route across the Northern Japanese Alps. Their trip begins at Ogizawa station, ours began about 1km down the road from Ogizawa at the trailhead that leads up to the cabin on the ridgeline. After registering our hike we started up the mountain. It needs to be stated that this hike was Yosuke’s first ever backpacking trip and Abby’s second. Though the conceptually they knew what they were in for, their bodies were not quite as ready. The trail from the trailhead to the cabin on the ridge is about 5 km long and goes up 1000 m. Originally I had planned that we would just stop and take a break at the cabin and hike on to the cabin near Kashimayarigatake, however, due to the pure exhaustion of Abby and Yosuke we stayed the night at the campground near the cabin on the ridge. I am not saying I was not tired after the uphill hike, just not exhausted. After setting up camp both Abby and Yosuke immediately fell asleep for a few hours while I wondered around.

IMG_6640Abby and Youske at the cabin on the ridgelineIMG_6665Beautiful weather for hiking

After a great night sleep we were awoken by the alpine start of our fellow campers, another surprise for the newbies. In the morning we hiked on to Kashimayarigatake, along the way the trail bends upwards towards Jigatake (Old Man Mountain). Though the weather was getting bad I made a quick trip up to the peak while the others continued to trudge onwards. The rain began to fall and the winds picked up creating a horizontal rainstorm. This kept up until we reached the Kashimayari cabin and campground. Due to the foul weather and earliness of the day we had our pick of campsites. We set up at the corner of the campground away from the trail and near a small wood to have a little bit of protection from the wind and rain.

IMG_6688On top of JigatakeIMG_6698Hiking from Jigatake to the Kashimayari Cabin (Yosuke in Orange)

IMG_6707Our tent for the summer (North Face Phoenix) with Tateyama in the background

After setting up camp and having a bit of rest (Abby and Yosuke might have napped again, I can’t recall all of their naps) we went to go scout out the study site. After scouting out the site Abby and I continued up the trail to the peak of Kashimayarigatake. The view of Tateyama and Tsuguri is amazing. On our way down we spotted two bears off in the distance.

IMG_6720

Abby on top of Kashimayargatake looking at Tateyama and Tsuguri IMG_6805Abby and Yosuke in the Field

The next morning we woke and headed off into the field. The previous day I noted that the birch belt was quite deep, but when walking through the site was a bit overwhelmed at how much work we were getting ourselves in to. We continued down until we finally came across the subalpine forest. Here we began to install the transect. Transect work continued throughout that day and the next. The following was a beautiful morning, one that was uber productive to the point that I thought we might actually get all the work done ahead of schedule. Boy was I wrong. Around 11 am the sky opened up, I could see the storm coming from the Tateyama region, buy wow was it rainy. After completing my tasks I ran around helping Yosuke and Abby finish up measuring the crown of the trees they were coring so we could huddle down until the storm had passed. We found a nice thicket of sorbus (Rowen) to hunker under. After about 30 minutes the storm still had not passed and did not show an inkling of doing so, at that point we headed up out of the field towards the campground.

DCIM100GOPROStanding water in the campground during the torrent

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the tents. There were a few moments of light rain but it was just nasty out. Though it was rainy, we still made plans to wake at 5:30 and get going in the morning. When we woke it was still rainy so we stayed in the tents. I don’t mean it was rainy and we were afraid of melting kind of rain but a full on thunder and lightning rainstorm that kept coming in waves. When a wave passed we would have about 30 minutes of time to stand, cook, and run to the loo. But then it would come back with vengeance. On a nearby mountain they recorded 33mm falling within an hour. In total this went on for 2 ½ days. We would have hiked out earlier, however, we still hoped that the weather would improve and we could finish the work. However, after 2 ½ days in the tents we now had more than half the work to accomplish in 1 ½ days, which was too much for such a short period of time. Thus on the morning of the 18th, 7 days into our potential trip we hiked out.

After 3 days in Matsumoto we headed back up to Kasimayarigatake. This second trip up to Kashimayari went much better than the first trip. While still sucking wind, we all made it up the mountain and all the way to the Kashimayari campground in much less time and effort than the first time.   While this second trip up to Kashimayari was equally wet to the first trip, it was lacking in thunder and lightning, so we worked. In 2 ½ days we were able to finish the rest of the work and hiked out in a torrent of rain. While packing up I put my mug outside the tent and over a centimeter of rain fell.

Though it took us two trips we successfully completed the Kashimayarigatake transect we were successful. While Abby and Yosuke knew what to expect in terms of field work, this trip was a lesson in backpacking and working in inclement weather. Considering we will be doing fieldwork and backpacking the rest of the summer and most likely in bad weather this was a great lesson. I am really proud of them.

IMG_6994

Meet my assistants for the 2014 field season

Last summer I had great pleasure working in the field with two good friends, though not at the same time. This summer I am working with two research assistants throughout the summer. I am hopeful that having three people in the field with both speed up the sampling as well as provide a safer work environment on these remote mountain peaks.

Norikura field teamOutside the Cosmic Ray Research Station the morning of our first day of work (Amanda, Abby, Yosuke)

1st up we have Abby Dolinger. Abby is a recent graduate from Penn State University with a Degree in Geography and minor in Environmental Studies. She is an active globe trotter having worked on organic farms, studied abroad, and conducted research  in Spain during her time at Penn State. In addition to her activities relating to Spain, she has worked in both the Vegetation Dynamics Lab with Alan Taylor and the Forest Dynamics Lab with Margot Kaye on a number of research projects.

Abby is an enthusiastic, hardworking assistant who is quick to learn the new tasks. Furthermore, she is easy to get along with which always a plus is when doing fieldwork.

Abby_Norikura_ViewAbby with the whole of the Northern Alps in the background
Abby_coreGetting the hang of coring Betula (birch)
Abby_Norikura3026 meters is not enough for Abby, she wants to get to 3028m.

2nd is Yosuke Hara. Yosuke is a biology student in his 4th year at Shinshu University (http://www.shinshu-u.ac.jp/english/index.html) in the Faculty of Science working with Dr. Koichi Takahashi .This summer Yosuke is working with me to learn both field and lab methods for dendrochronology, which he will need for his 4th project (similar to a senior thesis). In fact his project is within the framework of my dissertation, he will be analyzing the climate response of the Abies (Fir) at my most southern site (Norikura) and one of the Northern sites (Kashimiyarigatake). Thus as we visit the various mountains for my research we are conducting his research along the way.

In addition to being some added muscle in the field, it is great to have a Japanese student. I have so many questions about the Japanese language, history and culture and it is nice to have a friend around to answer these questions. Furthermore, we do not have to only rely on my basic, basic Japanese to get places or ask questions. Though I have managed to get by just fine the past two summers, it is a bit less stressful when traveling knowing he can easily just ask where we are or what is going on.

Yosuke_coreYosuke coring his very first tree!TentoumoushiYosuke and his car Tentoumoushi (ladybug) which he kindly shuttled us around with at our first site on Norikura.Yosuke_CookingYosuke teaching Abby and I how to cook Japanese Curry.

So far Abby, Yosuke and I have completed one site on the western slope of Norikura. This first site will probably be the easiest of the summer. We stayed in the Cosmic Ray Research Station near the top of Norikura and drove the 7km to our study site everyday in Yosuke’s car. In addition, to completing the sites, my main goal was to fully teach Abby and Yosuke the methods. We spent lots of time discussing what was going to go on in the field before heading out, then I reiderated what the methods were in the field, then when Abby and Yosuke began the work and had questions we talked about what was going on again. One of my favorite things thus far about working in the field with Abby and Yosuke is that they ask questions when they do not understand. I would much rather them take the time to ask questions and do everything correct than making up new methods in the field.

I think that if we can keep up our work ethic and good attitudes (except when the little and large flies are tormenting us) in the field we are going to have a great and productive field season.

IMG_6462Last day in the field at Norikura, ready to hike off the mountain and away from the flies.

Japanese Apartment

We arrived to Matsumoto at noon on a warm 32•C day and were greeted by Dr. Takahashi at the bus depot. This year the first few weeks of our stay in Matsumoto is not in the International House but in an apartment to the west of Shinshu University up on a hill. In addition to being on a hill our apartment is on the 5th floor. The view from the balcony is amazing, it looks out over all of Matsumoto and into the Mountains that surround the valley. On clear days we can even see Mt. Norikura from the balcony.

View from ApartmentView from the apartment balcony

The expanse of the view made me mention to Abby that this would be the perfect vista to watch fireworks. We haven’t been disappointed. Today is “Marine Day” as in Ocean celebration day which initiated the summer beach season. Though tonight will probably be amazing the whole weekend we have been enjoying firework displays both natural (lightning) and in celebration out of all our windows.fireworkThe apartment itself is very nice and big, yes, I said big. We have a bathroom (more on this later), a kitchen, living room and 3 bedrooms with tatami mat floors. With the windows open and shōji (paper doors/ room dividers) open we get a delightful breeze through the apartment keeping it cool-ish. A night we sleep on futons on the tatami mat floor with pillows made of cut up pieces of straw and giant towels as sheets/blankets. Life in the Japanese apartment is pretty good. IMG_6212Shōji (Paper door and window shades/curtains)IMG_62094 1/2 tatami mat room with shōji doors

A note is needed on the shower. There is a Japanese style tub (2 ½ ft. square by 3 ft. deep) with a shower head attached. To use it first one must turn on the gas and prime the water heater. Then you can choose to fill up the tub or take a shower on the tiles just outside the tub. Thus far we have only showered but a soak will be in our futures before moving to the International dorm in a few weeks. Temperature options range from scalding, burning to hot. Amazingly the shower water is instantly hot after priming and starting the shower. The only way we can get a cool shower is by not priming the heater, but then it is sometimes too cool.Tub_ShowerJapanese tub and shower with gas water heater

So far we love our apartment and will be a bit sad to leave our traditional apartment for western style dorm rooms. Then again we will soon begin our mountain (work) adventures and will be spending less time in Matsumoto.Matsumoto_Castle_from_Apartment

Matsumoto Castle from our balcony

Matsumoto_Castle_Rainbow Matsumoto Castle with a light rainbow Matsumoto_Castle_Night Matsumoto Castle at night

Returning to Matsumoto

It’s odd, the trepidation I thought I would have in traveling back to Matsumoto is not there. While the first two summers traveling to Matsumoto was one of the most nerve racking parts of the trip, for, once I arrived in Matsumoto I knew everything would be alright. This time around it was smooth sailing and the sweat only came from carrying heavy bags in the heat of Tokyo in July.

I’m now familiar with the subway, train, and bus; know which platform/stop I need to stand on and what the kanji of my departure and destination. Cash in hand I breeze through buying tickets and finding the stop, making it look ‘easy’ to Abby. We took the bus to Matsumoto from Shinjuku Station. You can also take the train from here but if traffic is good you can make it to Matsumoto only 30 minutes later than the train and for ½ the price (3,500 ¥ instead of 6,900 ¥).

IMG_6096

Abby on the bus from Shinjuku to Matsumoto

On the way out of Tokyo it seemed like the city goes on forever, even though we started on the west side or the city heading west. Slowly, apartment buildings give way to rice fields scattered amongst buildings and the bus begins to climb into the hills to the west of Tokyo. Here even the emblematic rice fields fade, restricted to valleys, where the hill slopes are covered in plantations of trees.

The morning haze had not yet fully burned off when we left Tokyo, but about ¼ of the way to Matsumoto between Tsugi (cedar) covered hills glimpses of Fuji-san were had. Not long enough for a photo but an overpowering smile appeared on Abby and my faces, with anticipation of better views ahead. Alas, the clouds lowered and we did not see Fuji-san again. I know however, that we will see our smiling friend again throughout the summer from the peaks of the Northern Alps.

Kyoto Climate Talks

 KICC

Kyoto International Conference Centre

Talks on climate and climate change have a long history in Kyoto, not as long as the 1200 year history of the city but in terms of climate talks, Kyoto is historic.

There were very few biogeography talks at the conference, roughly 6 sessions could fit into what is classically called biogeography.  Though they also would have fallen out under remote sensing, nature society, livelihoods and landscape planning. Due to this limitation of biogeography talks at the meeting I went to talks of the dominant physical geography group “climatology”.  While they were the dominant physical discipline, over all physical geography is grossly under represented at the conference.

An example of how under represented physical geography is can be seen from the 65(8) US based geographers at the conference 3 would be considered physical.  GIS is also poorly represented.  The dominant group is Human Geography. I don’t even know how well Nature Society was represented for in almost all of the biogeography talks one to two talks were about livelihoods in relation to nature, so maybe they too are underrepresented.

Back to the climate.  There were three main climate themes: Historical, Urban and Monsoons.  I primarily attended the historical climatology sessions.  These talks were primarily about Japan showing reconstructions of precipitation, temperatures and ENSO from historical documents.  I was extra interested in these topics considering my research and that I shall be working on reconstructions from the tree rings in central Japan.

Historical Climate

I learned about some more good resources to look at for historical climate data as well as I had some insights on how to merge unusual data sources for my research. Such as the Japan Climate Data Project which is compiling these old documents into useable data.

The mountains huts have been running for roughly 50-100 years.  I am going to ask if they have daily climate data for any span of time that I might be able to use to validate or debunk the laps rates and radiosounde data.

One of the interesting things that came up in many presentations was that in the 1850-1860’s it was especially warm in Japan.  This period of time corresponds with the end of the little ice age here in Japan and throughout East Asia. It will be interesting to examine my tree establishment data to see if there is a trend of greater establishment around this same period.

While I was hoping for a good variety of biogeography talks at IGU, I felt honored that I could attend so many talks on climate at the historic grounds of the Kyoto Protocol.