Tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) as a biological indicator of wind

• Main Author: Robertson, Alexander
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1984
• Subjects: Tamarack; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/5524/; https://research.library.mun.ca/5524/1/Robertson_AlexanderWood.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/5524/3/Robertson_AlexanderWood.pdf

A major obstacle to validation of climatic models involving estimates of wind is the technical and economic constraints which preclude effective and efficient measurement of wind over complex terrain, especially over forested terrain. -- This thesis examines tamarack as a biological indicator of wind as an alternative method of estimating the spatial variation of mean wind speed and direction in complex, forested terrain. The deformation of tamarack, including crown deformation and tree-ring asymmetry, was calibrated against the mean wind speed and direction at seven meteorological stations across Newfoundland. The indices were tested in a biological wind survey of the Black Mountain area, Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland. The results show that tree deformation is caused primarily by summer southwesterlies. A crown deformation ratio, D'r, adapted to tamarack, was found to be a reliable indicator of wind in complex terrain. A compression index, C₁, describing tree-ring asymmetry, gave a reasonably good estimate of wind on level terrain but was not reliable for estimating wind in complex terrain.