dr. Timme Donders, Assistant Professor Palaeoecology
The latest upcoming Super- El Niño has been all over the news recently. An event as big as the 1997/1998 Niño is foreseen and already the effects of extended forest fires in Indonesia and greater rainfall in coastal South America are being seen. With that in the back of our minds we, Hans van Aken, Kees Nooren and I set off last August for our flight to Quito, Ecuador. On our way from the airport to town we were impressed by the fresh road cuts with thick strata of volcanic ash. The Ecuadorian capital, the highest in the world, is situated in a valley surrounded by volcanoes on different levels, which makes for interesting detours when you try to find your way around. After some sight-seeing and getting used to the altitude (trying not to pant while climbing the tallest bell tower) we met up with Susana Leon and Manuela Ormaza from Quito Catholic University. Manuela, a student specialized in Páramo botany - the South American Alpine grasslands - would join our team up the mountains.
The latest upcoming Super- El Niño has been all over the news recently. An event as big as the 1997/1998 Niño is foreseen and already the effects of extended forest fires in Indonesia and greater rainfall in coastal South America are being seen. With that in the back of our minds we, Hans van Aken, Kees Nooren and I set off last August for our flight to Quito, Ecuador. On our way from the airport to town we were impressed by the fresh road cuts with thick strata of volcanic ash. The Ecuadorian capital, the highest in the world, is situated in a valley surrounded by volcanoes on different levels, which makes for interesting detours when you try to find your way around. After some sight-seeing and getting used to the altitude (trying not to pant while climbing the tallest bell tower) we met up with Susana Leon and Manuela Ormaza from Quito Catholic University. Manuela, a student specialized in Páramo botany - the South American Alpine grasslands - would join our team up the mountains.