Field Site
Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory NEON / NOGP
Gradient Terrestrial, ND, D09: Northern Plains
About Field Sites
The Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory (NOGP) is a terrestrial NEON field site located 9.6 km (6 mi.) west of Bismarck, North Dakota. The sampling area is about 6 km2 (1483 acres), placed on land that has been managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Agriculture Research Service (ARS) for over 100 years. The site is full of sprawling grassland vegetation which represent much of NEON's 770,995 km2 (190.5 million acre) Northern Plains Domain (D09), NEON's second largest Domain. D09 includes two other terrestrial field sites and two aquatic field sites. NOCP is not colocated with an aquatic site. [1] [2]
Climate
North Dakota has continental climate characterized by vast variations in both seasonal and daily temperatures. Air flow throughout the region creates windy conditions. In the winter, arctic air masses create cold and dry conditions. Summer airflow from the Northern Pacific air masses bring warmer dry conditions, while occasional tropical air flow creates warm and wet conditions. This highly variably shift in air masses ultimately provides North Dakota with moderate precipitation annually of around 330-508 mm (13-20 in.). Average annual temperature ranges from 2.8-6.1°C (37-43°F), with winters often below -17.8°C (0°F) and summers above 32°C (90°F). The mean annual temperature in the vicinity is 5.9°C (42.6°F) and mean annual precipitation is 455 mm (18 in.). Preipitation varies from year to year, with more precipitation falling during the summer months when thunderstorm activity is the highest. Weather exhibits extreme variability, with periodic droughts, hailstorms, fluctuations in temperature, and frequent strong winds. The most severe storms can produce hail, tornadoes, or damaging straight-line winds. [5] [11] [14]
Geology
NOGP sits above the Oahe Formation, a geologic formation from the late Quaternary age consisting predominately of wind-blown silt. [3] [10]
Soils
Soils at NOGP are nearly all Mollisols, which is characteristic of prairie grasslands. They are part of the subgroup Typic Argiustolls and have surface horizons that are dark and mollic with a thickness of 18-89 cm (7-35 in.). A small area of a shallow entisol of the Cabba series also exists at the site. Parent materials are sedimentary sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, and shale. [9] [10]
Hydrology
NOGP has vast spanses of prairie potholes across its landscape. Prairie potholes are both seasonal and year-long depressional freshwater wetlands that fill with snowmelt and rain during spring and summer storms.[4]
Vegetation
The Great Plains region is dominated by native grasslands, tame grasses, legumes, and many species of wildflowers. Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis L.) and Kentucky blue grass (Poa pretensis L.) dominate the NOGP tower area along with various crop species planted depending on type of research being conducted in the field site. The five most common species within NOGP include Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.), Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), Snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis Hook.), Green Needlegrass (Nassella viridula (Trin.)), and Smooth Brome (Bromus inemis Leyss). [1]
Fauna
Some animals that call this region home include Bison (Bison bison), Red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Coyote (Canis latrans), American Badger (Taxidea taxus), and more. NEON collects data on four types of wildlife here: small mammals, birds, mosquitoes, and ground beetles. Common species collected at NOGP include the Thirteen-lined squirrel (Ictidomus tredecemlineatus), Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), and many ground beetles such as Cyclotrachelus torvus. [1] [6] [7]
Past Land Management and Use
The Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory was established by Congress on August 8, 1912 to respond to the needs of farmers and ranchers of the Northern Plains. Research began in 1914 on vegetables, shrubs, ornamentals, berries, fruits, wheat, flax, forages, grazing management, windbreaks, and forestry. Research programs have changed significantly across the years; programs focused on evaluating trees and shrubs for windbreaks, developing methods to reclaim mine-land spoils, and examining the feasibility of dairy production, have been replaced with new long-term research. The prairie section at NOGP was historically grazed and hayed with no history of tillage; however, it has been undisturbed since 2005. The arable section at NOGP has been managed for annual grain production for over 50 years but has not been tilled since 1992. [2] [12] [13]
Current Land Management and Use
The Northern Great Plain Research Laboratory has been conducting agricultural studies for over a hundred years at the NOGP site. Their mission is “To develop adaptive and integrative practices for sustainable, crop, livestock and rangeland systems.” The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) manages the land, focusing on developing solutions to agricultural problems that affect millions of Americans. [8] [12]
NEON Site Establishment
NOGP plots were officially established in November 2015, with a last phase of development with the instrumentation tower in July of 2017. Sensor data started collection in July 2017. Sampling for Terrestrial Observations began in August 2016, making it one of the earlier sites to be sampled within NEON.
Additional Resources
[1] Terrestrial Observation System (TOS) Site Characterization Report: Domain 09. NEON.DOC.003893vB
[2] http://www.mandanhistory.org/arealandmarks/greatplainsexpermtstn.html
[3] Clayton, L., Moran, S.R., & Bickely, W.B. (1976) Stratigraphy, origin, and climactic implications of the late quaternary upland silt in North Dakota. North Dakota Geological Survey. https://www.dmr.nd.gov/ndgs/documents/Publication_List/pdf/MiscSeries/M…
[4] https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/prairie-potholes
[5] https://gf.nd.gov/wildlife/habitats/climate
[6] https://gf.nd.gov/gnf/education/habitats-of-nd/habitats-of-nd-prairie.p…
[7] https://bugguide.net/node/view/127442
[8] https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs-projects/?modeCode=30-64-05-…
[9] Heilig, Jeanne. 2017. NEON Site Level Plot Summary, Northern Great Plains (NOGP), November 2017. https://data.neonscience.org/documents/10179/2361410/NOGP_Soil_SiteSumm…
[10] U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/
[11] https://statesummaries.ncics.org/chapter/nd/
[12] https://www.ars.usda.gov/plains-area/mandan-nd/ngprl/docs/about-us/
[13] Terrestrial Instrument System (TIS, FIU) Site Characterization Supporting Data: Domain 09. NEON.DOC.011055vB
[14] PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, http://prism.oregonstate.edu,created 4 Feb 2004.
Field Site Information
Latitude/Longitude
46.76972, -100.91535
Geodetic Datum
WGS84
Location
Morton County
ND, US
Elevation
Mean: 589m
Minimum: 517m
Maximum: 592m
Mean Annual Temperature
5.9°C
Dominant Wind Direction
NNE
Mean Canopy Height
0.4m
Dominant NLCD Classes
Grassland/Herbaceous
Colocated Research
USDA Agricultural Research Service Northern Great Plains Research Lab
Northern Plains - LTAR
Critical Zone Exploration Network
Ameriflux
Field Operations Office
1503 Business Loop East
Jamestown, ND 58401
Research Access
Non-NEON research activities are allowed in this area. Researchers must obtain their own permits with the site host(s).
Observation Types
Remote Sensing
Remote sensing surveys of this field site collect lidar, spectrometer and high-resolution RGB camera data.
Meteorological Measurements
This site has a flux/meteorological tower that is 8 m (26 ft) tall with four measurement levels. The tower top extends above the vegetation canopy to allow sensors mounted at the top and along the tower to capture the full profile of atmospheric conditions from the top of the vegetation canopy to the ground. The tower collects physical and chemical properties of atmosphere-related processes, such as humidity, wind, and net ecosystem gas exchange. Precipitation data are collected by a tipping bucket at the top of the tower.
Phenocams
One phenocam is attached to the top and the bottom of the tower. Here we show the images from the most recent hour. The full collection of images can be viewed on the Phenocam Gallery - click on either of the images below.
Tower top
Tower bottom
Soil Sensor Measurements
This site has five soil plots placed in an array within the airshed of the flux tower. Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) at soil surface, soil heat flux, and solar radiation are measured at the soil surface in each soil plot. Soil moisture, soil temperature, and CO2 concentration are measured at multiple depths in each soil plot.
Observational Sampling
At terrestrial sites, field ecologists observe birds and plants, and sample ground beetles, mosquitoes, small mammals, soil microbes, and ticks. Lab analyses are carried out to provide further data on DNA sequences, pathogens, soils, sediments, and biogeochemistry. Learn more about terrestrial observations or explore this site's data products.
Field Site Data
Site
Site Host
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Site Access Allowed
Yes
Site Access Details
This site host welcomes and encourages additional research activities related to the USDA Agricultural Research Service mission.
Operations Office
NEON Field Operations Office
Domain 09 Support Facility
NEON Field Operations Address
1503 Business Loop East
Jamestown, ND 58401
NEON Field Operations Phone
701.952.6728
Location
Latitude
46.76972
Longitude
-100.91535
Geodetic Datum
WGS84
UTM Northing
5181355.71m
UTM Easting
353761.60m
UTM Zone
14N
County
Morton
State
ND
Country
US
Mean Elevation
589m
Minimum Elevation
517m
Maximum Elevation
592m
Climate
Mean Annual Temperature
5.9°C
Mean Annual Precipitation
457mm
Dominant Wind Direction
NNE
Vegetation
Mean Canopy Height
0.4m
Dominant NLCD Classes
Grassland/Herbaceous
Average number of green days
175
Average first greenness increase date
115 DOY
Average peak green date
170 DOY
Average first greenness decrease date
200 DOY
Average minimum greenness date
290 DOY
Tower
Tower Height
8m
Number of Tower Levels
4
Soils
Megapit Soil Family
Fine-loamy - mixed - superactive - frigid Typic Argiustolls
Soil Subgroup
Typic Argiustolls
No Video
Related Field Sites
Other Domain D09 Field Sites
Core Terrestrial | |
Gradient Terrestrial | |
Gradient Aquatic | |
Core Aquatic |
Other Field Sites in ND
Core Terrestrial | |
Gradient Terrestrial | |
Gradient Aquatic | |
Core Aquatic |