Do trees fall downhill? Relationship between treefall direction and slope-aspect and wind in eight old-growth oak stands in the central hardwood forest

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between direction of treefall and slope-aspect, and prevailing wind in eight old-growth stands where single-tree canopy gaps characterize the dominant disturbance regime. All live and downed trees were inventoried in 0.45-ha sample plots. To determine crown asymmetry, crown sizes of live trees were measured along two perpendicular axes. Directions of fall and slope-aspect of downed trees also were recorded. Regional prevailing winds and wind gusts were obtained from two nearby airports. I used circular statistics to determine whether directions of treefall for each study stand had a mean direction or whether the directions of fall were uniformly distributed. If directions of treefall had a true mean, they were then compared to mean slope-aspect and mean wind directions.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings, 17th Central Hardwood Forest Conference

Citation

Rentch, James S. 2011. Do trees fall downhill Relationship between treefall direction and slope-aspect and wind in eight old-growth oak stands in the central hardwood forest. In: Fei, Songlin; Lhotka, John M.; Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Miller, Gary W., eds. Proceedings, 17th central hardwood forest conference; 2010 April 5-7; Lexington, KY; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-78. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 646-647.