Forest shade related to snow accumulation

Exploratory studies have been made in order to develop a system of physical measurements of forests that will more adequately index the various effects that forests have on snow accumulation. Various measurements of the forest were tested against the snow accumulation and melt at individual points within snow courses. The measurements tested from a single valued index of forest cover to a 7-variable expression of the same forest cover. The three parts of the study concern (1) the effects on snow of conventional forest variables of hemispherical cover and cover density, (2) the effects on snow of forest variables when the hemispherical cover was differentiated into shade cast by the trees to the south and shielding of radiation produced by the trees to the north, and (3) the effects of snow of several physical indexes of the forest. The measurement methods are described, the variables and their definitions are listed. An 'ideal forest' managed for water production is postulated from the results.