Student Research Reports

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In our study of land cover and biometry measurements, we observed the land cover and collected data from two different sites near Varemurru, Pärnu county, Estonia. Field measurements were carried out on August 6-9, 2022. Main goals for this expedition were the following: to compare Sentinel-2 satellite images (made available by Estonian Land Board) with real on-the-ground conditions, test GLOBE Data Entry App, test new Data Sheets and determine the area’s MUC code using MUC field guide. We decided to compare two 30x30 meter areas in two different locations - one at the seaside and one in a pine-dominant forest (Pinus Sylvestris). On these sites, we proceeded to make different measurements, i.e. calculate tree canopy cover, determine MUC code and collect other necessary data (dominant species, etc.). Before the study on chosen sites, two research questions and hypotheses were placed: 1. Are the dominant plants growing in our research area in correlation with the species mentioned in the MUC field guide? 2. Do the measurements made in the forest overlap with a different expedition group observing the exact same area? Hypothesis no. 1: The dominant plant species on our selected sites are typical for the area and are in correlation with the MUC field guide. Hypothesis no. 2: Measurements made by us overlap with the measurements made by the other group in the same exact site.