Forest growth in drier climates will be impacted by reduced snowpack


Date:
August 10, 2020
Source:
Portland State University
Summary:
A new study suggests that future reductions in seasonal snowpack as
a result of climate change may negatively influence forest growth
in semi- arid climates, but less so in wetter climates.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new study suggests that future reductions in seasonal snowpack as
a result of climate change may negatively influence forest growth in
semi-arid climates, but less so in wetter climates.


========================================================================== Researchers from Portland State University, U.S. Geological Survey,
U.S. Forest Service and the universities of Vermont and Maine found
that forest density and snowpack can influence drought stress and forest
growth in ways that are important to recognize for managing forests in
a changing climate.

Research sites included pine-dominated experimental forests in northern Arizona, South Dakota, and northern Minnesota.

The study -- led by Kelly Gleason, assistant professor of ecohydrology
at PSU - - found that forest growth in water-limited, dryland areas is
likely to be most dramatically impacted by snowpack reductions. In these semi-arid climates, reduced snowpack may negatively influence forest
growth and may increase tree mortality. This was only exacerbated in high-density forests.

"Forests are a lot more vulnerable because of increasing density," Gleason said. "More trees are sharing the same amount of water, and there's less
water over time because of climate change impacts." She said that in
arid climates like much of the western U.S. where water availability is
driven by snow, reducing forest density through thinning will improve
the resilience of these forests amid a changing climate.

By contrast, the study found that in wetter climates like Minnesota,
reduced snowpack as a result of future warmer winters may positively
influence forest growth, potentially by extending the growing season. The
study found that in these forests, thinning would have less of an impact
on the snowpack-growth relationship.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Portland_State_University. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Kelly E. Gleason, John B. Bradford, Anthony W. D'Amato, Shawn
Fraver,
Brian Palik, Mike A. Battaglia. Forest density intensifies the
importance of snowpack to growth in water‐limited pine
forests. Ecological Applications, 2020; DOI: 10.1002/eap.2211 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200810140951.htm

--- up 3 weeks, 5 days, 1 hour, 55 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)