The Effects of Wind Disturbance on Temperate Rain Forest Structure and Dynamics of Southeast Alaska

Download or read book The Effects of Wind Disturbance on Temperate Rain Forest Structure and Dynamics of Southeast Alaska written by Gregory Jay Nowacki and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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 existance of fistinct 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.