Color Infrared Aerial Photograph of Study Area for the Forest Ecosystem Dynamics Project Spatial Data Archive

The nature and extent of the impacts of these changes, as well as the feedbacks to global climate, may be addressed through modeling the interactions of the vegetation, soil, and energy components of the boreal ecosystem. The Howland Forest research site lies within the Northern Experimental Forest of International Paper. The natural stands in this boreal-northern hardwood transitional forest consist of spruce-hemlock-fir, aspen-birch, and hemlock-hardwood mixtures.

The topography of the region varies from flat to gently rolling, with a maximum elevation change of less than 68 m within 10 km. Due to the region's glacial history, soil drainage classes within a small area may vary widely, from well drained to poorly drained. Consequently, an elaborate patchwork of forest communities has developed, supporting exceptional local species diversity.

This is a digital high-resolution color infrared aerial photograph of the University of Maine, Orono tower site. There were a series of large scale color infrared photographs taken over the FED study area and this photo is only an example of the photographs obtained.