NASA's RG3-M study of volcanic parks

Lassen Volcanic National Park – Residents of Tehama County may be surprised to learn that no place on Earth has a landscape more akin to Mars than Lassen Volcanic National Park.

At least that's what NASA researchers think, and that's why, with the help of biologists, four Red Bluff League high school students -- who have installed high-tech instruments in the park to learn more about Earth's "Mars" task" item.

"It's been a great experience for these NASA scientists. Why not get local students involved?" said Steve Zachary, the park's education professional.

So "kids in school like science," jokes Lauren Phillips, who jumped at the chance to become an astrobiology intern and official National Park Service volunteer. Juniors Chris Henzie, Lauren Litwiler, Vanessa Crandall, Phillips.

The 106,000-acre park reaches an elevation of 8,500 feet and receives more than 500 inches of snow each winter.

NASA researchers theorize that the gullies on Mars are melted by running water from snow, and there are several questions about past snow and solar caps on Mars and how they formed.

"They could use Larsen as an outdoor laboratory and maybe answer some questions," Sanzachari said.

Lassen's snowpack frozen into ice bowls, volcanic landscapes, and abundance of snow-covered algae make for the ideal conditions NASA needs to perform its research.

NASA began research at the park in the fall of 2005, but local students were only involved for the first time this spring. In September, students helped NASA astrobiologist Jennifer Heldmann reinstall expensive equipment at two locations in the park, at 8,400 feet and 7,100 feet.

Tools, though expensive high-tech NASA research materials, like bottle caps and pouring barrels.

但不显著地放在雨量记录器RG3, RG3-M和传感器温度S-TMB-M002，S-TMB-M006，S-TMB-M017，土壤水分S-SMC-M005，S-SMD-M005、雨量S-RGA-M002，S-RGB-M002、S-RGC-M002，S-RGD-M002，风速S-WSB-M003、风向S-WDA-M003，S-WSET-B、S-WCA-M003, S-WCF-M003，大气压力S-BPB-CM50，S-BPA-CM10，气温和相对湿度S-THB-M002，S-THB-M008，光合有效辐射（PAR）S-LIA-M003，太阳总辐射S-LIB-M003，叶面湿度S-LWA-M003等,收集和记录雪融化,温度、运动,水分数据, etc.。还有一个相机,电池有一个强大到足以持续到冬天,程序每天中午拍照。“这是很酷的东西在我们的后院,”圣扎迦利说。

凯蒂·哈里斯,一个地区职业计划(ROP)在高中,老师想出了让学生参与进来。她监督和组织去参观拉森大约一个月一次。一旦下雪,实习生要雪鞋网站,不是确保仪器仍埋在的地方,拍照,和监控雪藻类。

雪海藻没有雪是蓝色/绿色尘埃肉眼不可见,圣扎迦利说。但雪融化导致藻类“游泳”从地面到顶部的雪,那里的紫外线让它看起来红,温柔地洒在雪地上,他说。

研究的一部分将包括在积雪监测的核心样本藻类迁移。

藻类也被称为“西瓜藻类”,因为它被认为有甜味,但圣扎迦利说,他从来没有被咬的红雪,因为藻类也应该是一种利尿剂。

研究人员也研究了公园的水热的地区,或巨大的充满液体的陶罐”基本上像沸腾的蓄电池酸液,”圣扎迦利说。有理论的生物生活在液体类似于生物体生活在其他行星和卫星的热液区。NASA执行研究世界各地,包括智利、澳大利亚、和死亡谷,研究地质、气象、火星和生物学。但没有项目是一样的拉森,圣扎迦利说。如此独特的东西,所以世俗,所以关闭了哈里斯的项目,让学生参与进来。

aScience students earning community service hours will count toward work experience should they apply for government jobs. Four said the experience would appear on their resumes and help them reach their science-related career goals.

"But even if I don't have a scientific career, it's still fun," Henzie said, "and a good excuse to go to a beautiful place."

Interns program lectures on Larson faculty research. They are also planning a site that will enable Raise Larsen to teach foreign exchange student programs in Italy.

San Zachary said students were lucky enough to participate in the project to learn more about the park, which was established in 1916 after the eruption of Mount Lassen at its peak.

In its relatively short history, the park has become both a learning center and a Mars laboratory. Schools from more than 30 counties make state visits to the park each year, working with the Department of Water Resources to monitor where the snow has been over the years, providing water to the state as the snow melts.

"Larsen is a very important watershed, a very important water monitoring system for California, and now NASA," San Zachary said