A.
Center/Institute/Program
Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute/Rutgers
University
1 DeKorte Park Plaza
Lyndhurst, New Jersey
07071
Phone: 201-460-2801
Fax: 201-460-2804
E-mail: francisco.artigas@njmeadowlands.gov
Web Page: http://meri.njmeadowlands.gov
Director/Chairperson:
Dr. Francisco Artigas
Representative to AERC:
Dr. Francisco Artigas
B. Major objectives of the
Center/Institute/Program
The
Meadowlands Environmental Research Institute (MERI) conducts and sponsors
research in ecology, environmental science and information technology to
monitor, preserve and improve ecological and human health and welfare in the
Meadowlands, an urban estuary in northeastern New Jersey.
C. Major ecosystem research emphases
Urban,
tidal, brackish river, creeks and marshes, with a legacy of contamination in
the sediments, hydrologic disturbance (fill, dikes, tide gates) and dominance
by Phragmites australis.
D. Staff
Approximately
15 full-time.
E. Approximate annual funding (recent year)
Core
funding: $1,500,000/yr, Source: New Jersey Meadowlands Commission
Grants: $839,134 total, Major sources:
F. Areas and facilities for ecosystem research studies
1. Tidal, brackish river, creeks and
marshes (approximately 2000 acres), and freshwater ponds and marshes
(approximately 300 acres).
2. GIS lab.
3. Chemistry lab.
4. Library
5. Sampling equipment.
6. Field-deployable water quality
monitoring instruments.
7. GPS.
8. Spectral radiometers.
9. Boats.
G. Research staff directly involved in ecosystem research (names and
specialty areas)
Artigas,
Francisco J. – remote sensing, wetland vegetation
Elefante, Dom - GIS
Hobble, Christine - sediment/water chemistry
Konsevick, Edward - air quality
Shin Jin Young - organic chemistry
H. Long-term data sets (code name, number of years of data, computer
accessibility)
1. Water quality measured 4 times per year
at 13 sites, 1993-2006, stored in Excel files and in an on-line database
accessible via http://meri.njmeadowlands.gov.
2. Weather and water quality variables
measured every 15 minutes at 4 sites (one weather and three water), 2000 on-going, stored in Excel files and
in an on-line database accessible on-line via http://meri.njmeadowlands.gov.