Abstract
Within the European Community snow damage affects an estimated 4 million m3 of timber every year, causing significant economic losses to forest owners. In Northern Europe, for example, the occurrence of snow damage has increased over the last few decades mainly due to the increase in total growing stock. The most common form of damage is stem breakage, but trees can also be bent or uprooted. Trees suffering snow damage are also more prone to consequential damage through insect or fungal attacks. Snow accumulation on trees is strongly dependent upon weather and climatological conditions. Temperature influences the moisture content of snow and therefore the degree to which it can accumulate on branches. Wind can cause snow to be shed, but can also lead to large accumulations of wet snow, rime or freezing rain. Wet snow is most likely in late autumn or early spring. Geographic location and topography influence the occurrence of damaging forms of snow, and coastal locations and moderate to high elevations experience large accumulations. Slope plays a less important role and the evidence on the role of aspect is contradictory. The occurrence of damaging events can vary from every winter to once every 10 years or so depending upon regional climatology. In the future, assuming global warming in northern latitudes, the risk of snow damage could increase, because the relative occurrence of snowfall near temperatures of zero could increase. The severity of snow damage is related to tree characteristics. Stem taper and crown characteristics are the most important factors controlling the stability of trees. Slightly tapering stems, asymmetric crowns, and rigid horizontal branching are all associated with high risk. However, the evidence on species differences is less clear due to the interaction with location. Management of forests can alter risk through choice of regeneration, tending, thinning and rotation. However, quantification and comparison of the absolute effect of these measures is not yet possible. An integrated risk model is required to allow the various locational and silvicultural factors to be assessed. Plans are presented to construct such a model, and gaps in knowledge are highlighted.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
In the European Community, snow damage affects an estimated 4 million m3 of timber every year.
Verbatim
t0“Factors affecting snow damage of trees”
e1“Within the European Community snow damage affects an estimated 4 million m3 of timber every year”
Claim · model-written summary
Slightly tapering stems, asymmetric crowns and rigid horizontal branching are associated with high risk of snow damage.
Verbatim
t0“Factors affecting snow damage of trees”
e2“Slightly tapering stems, asymmetric crowns, and rigid horizontal branching are all associated with high risk”
Claim · model-written summary
Coastal locations and moderate to high elevations experience large snow accumulations on trees.
Verbatim
t0“Factors affecting snow damage of trees”
e3“coastal locations and moderate to high elevations experience large accumulations”
Claim · model-written summary
Forest management through choice of regeneration, tending, thinning and rotation can alter the risk of snow damage, but its absolute effect cannot yet be quantified.
- Taxon
- treest0
- Treatment
- choice of regeneration, tending, thinning and rotatione4
- Outcome
- riske4
- Qualifier
- quantification and comparison of the absolute effect of these measures is not yet possiblee5
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
t0“Factors affecting snow damage of trees”
e4“Management of forests can alter risk through choice of regeneration, tending, thinning and rotation”
e5“quantification and comparison of the absolute effect of these measures is not yet possible”
Claim · model-written summary
Under assumed global warming in northern latitudes, the risk of snow damage could increase.
Verbatim
t0“Factors affecting snow damage of trees”
e6“In the future, assuming global warming in northern latitudes, the risk of snow damage could increase”
Claim · model-written summary
An integrated risk model is required to assess the locational and silvicultural factors affecting snow damage of trees.
Verbatim
t0“Factors affecting snow damage of trees”
e7“An integrated risk model is required to allow the various locational and silvicultural factors to be assessed”
Claim · model-written summary
Trees suffering snow damage are more prone to consequential damage by insect or fungal attacks.
Verbatim
t0“Factors affecting snow damage of trees”
e1“Trees suffering snow damage are also more prone to consequential damage through insect or fungal attacks”