Snow accumulation, melt and soil moisure recharge under various lodgepole pine stand densities in western Montana

Submitted by Armida on Fri, 02/15/2013 - 15:27
TitleSnow accumulation, melt and soil moisure recharge under various lodgepole pine stand densities in western Montana
Publication TypeConference Proceedings
Year of Conference1984
AuthorsPotts, D. F.
Conference Name52nd Annual Western Snow Conference
Series TitleProceedings of the 52nd Annual Western Snow Conference
Date PublishedApril 1984
PublisherWestern Snow Conference
Conference LocationSun Valley, Idaho
KeywordsLodgepole pine, Snow accumulation, Snow melt, Soil moisture recharge, Western Montana
Abstract

A systematic grid snowcourse (262 measuring stakes at 12m x 12m spacing) was established across a low elevation (1200 m), 50 year-old lodgepole pine stand in western Montana. The 3.85 ha stand was divided into 5 equal-size treatment sub-units - a clearcut, a control (1750 stems/ha) and thinnings at 3m x 3m, 4.5m x 4.5m, and 6m x 6m spacing. A total of 45 soil moisture access tubes were systematically place through the stand. Through the recharge period, snow accumulation was inversely proportional to basal area. The presence of canopy accelerated snowmelt timing. Nevertheless, soil moisture recharge was uniform in all treatments.
URLsites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/1984Potts.pdf