Terrain Susceptibility to Windthrow of Trees in Subalpine Forests, Canadian Rockies
Date
2019-08-29
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Abstract
Windthrow is a natural disturbance that can result in significant impacts on forests. Modelling of basin-scale patterns of wind speed in subalpine forests of the Canadian Rockies and evaluation of terrain susceptibility to windthrow of trees in these forests have not previously been undertaken. The present study uses the numerical model, WindStation, to simulate wind speed patterns in two mountainous drainage basins in Kananaskis, Canadian Rockies. Locations and associated terrain characteristics where wind speeds for major wind events exceed the threshold of 42 m s-1 are evaluated. Results show that locations where wind speeds exceed the threshold for windthrow and are also treed are limited in spatial extent, occurring mainly at the upper parts of drainage basins close to the drainage divide. Understanding terrain susceptibility to windthrow provides important information about the types of disturbance that control forest dynamics in the subalpine forests of the Canadian Rockies.
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Keywords
Windthrow, Terrain Susceptibility, Trees, Subalpine Forests, Modelling, Natural disturbance, Wind speed
Citation
Momodu, P. A. (2019). Terrain Susceptibility to Windthrow of Trees in Subalpine Forests, Canadian Rockies (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.