The effects of wind disturbance on temperate rain forest structure and dynamics of southeast Alaska.

Gregory J. Nowacki; Marc G. Kramer

doi:10.2737/PNW-GTR-421

Treesearch

The effects of wind disturbance on temperate rain forest structure and dynamics of southeast Alaska.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Gregory J. Nowacki, Marc G. Kramer

Year:

1998

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Pacific Northwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/PNW-GTR-421

Source:

Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-421. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 25 p. (Shaw, Charles G., III, tech. coord.; Julin, Kent R., ed.; Conservation and resource assessments for the Tongass land management plan revision)

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Abstract

Wind disturbance plays a fundamental role in shaping forest dynamics in southeast Alaska. Recent studies have increased our appreciation for the effects of wind at both large and small scales. Current thinking is that wind disturbance characteristics change over a continuum dependent on landscape features (e.g., exposure, landscape position, topography). Data modeling has revealed the existence of distinct wind disturbance regimes, grading from exposed landscapes where recurrent, large-scale wind events prevail to wind-protected landscapes where small-scale canopy gaps predominate. Emulating natural disturbances offers a way to design future management plans and silvicultural prescriptions consistent with prevailing ecological conditions.

Keywords

Tongass National Forest, old growth, forest development, small-scale canopy gaps, large-scale catastrophic blowdown, predictive windthrow model, silviculture

Citation

Nowacki, Gregory J.; Kramer, Marc G. 1998. The effects of wind disturbance on temperate rain forest structure and dynamics of southeast Alaska. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-421. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 25 p. (Shaw, Charles G., III, tech. coord.; Julin, Kent R., ed.; Conservation and resource assessments for the Tongass land management plan revision)