Thomas Holst
Researcher
Mikroklima in Buchenbeständen – Teil I: Photosynthetisch aktive Strahlung
Author
Summary, in English
Meteorological investigations were carried out in forests in the southwestern part of the Swabian Alb
(SW Germany) to analyze the influences of exposition and silvicultural treatment on the microclimate
within various stands of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). The measurements were taken as part of an interdisciplinary
project on the effects of climate and forest management on structures and processes within
beech dominated deciduous forests. Near-surface stations for continuous recording of meteorological
variables in forests provide the basis of the investigations. Two each were installed on two opposite
slopes (NE and SW) of a narrow valley: one within a control plot (no silvicultural thinning) and one
within a silviculturally treated plot (strong shelterwood felling). Meteorological towers on each control
plot provided data for the analysis of climatic conditions above the beech stands and within their
canopies. The experimental design is well-suited for investigation of not only the influence of exposition,
but also the effects of forest management and phenophases on the microclimate within differently
handled beech stands. The plant area index PAI is used to characterize the canopy.
The present article deals with the photosynthetically active radiation PAR at the near-surface stations
and above the stands as a reference. PAR is measured horizontally. Above the stands, differences to PAR received parallel to the slopes can be estimated by use of model calculations for the incoming
solar radiation G due to the fact that PAR/G is almost constant (1.937 µmol/J) above the stands.
For PAR and the PAR-interception within the canopy in the year 2001, the following results are
discussed: mean diurnal courses in one month within the leafless period (February) and the vegetation
period (August), daily mean values over the whole year and monthly mean values. For the leafless
period the results show the influence of the exposition of both slopes on PAR at the near-surface
stations and the PAR-interception. In the vegetation period, however, the influence of the fully developed
canopy was more significant than exposition. With increasing PAI, results from regression analysis
for the entire investigation period indicate a linear decrease of PAR/G below the canopy as well as an
exponential increase of PAR-interception within the canopy and a logarithmic decrease of the PARtransmission
through the canopy. The extinction coefficient k for PAR shows a tendency towards
logarithmic decrease with increasing PAI.
(SW Germany) to analyze the influences of exposition and silvicultural treatment on the microclimate
within various stands of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). The measurements were taken as part of an interdisciplinary
project on the effects of climate and forest management on structures and processes within
beech dominated deciduous forests. Near-surface stations for continuous recording of meteorological
variables in forests provide the basis of the investigations. Two each were installed on two opposite
slopes (NE and SW) of a narrow valley: one within a control plot (no silvicultural thinning) and one
within a silviculturally treated plot (strong shelterwood felling). Meteorological towers on each control
plot provided data for the analysis of climatic conditions above the beech stands and within their
canopies. The experimental design is well-suited for investigation of not only the influence of exposition,
but also the effects of forest management and phenophases on the microclimate within differently
handled beech stands. The plant area index PAI is used to characterize the canopy.
The present article deals with the photosynthetically active radiation PAR at the near-surface stations
and above the stands as a reference. PAR is measured horizontally. Above the stands, differences to PAR received parallel to the slopes can be estimated by use of model calculations for the incoming
solar radiation G due to the fact that PAR/G is almost constant (1.937 µmol/J) above the stands.
For PAR and the PAR-interception within the canopy in the year 2001, the following results are
discussed: mean diurnal courses in one month within the leafless period (February) and the vegetation
period (August), daily mean values over the whole year and monthly mean values. For the leafless
period the results show the influence of the exposition of both slopes on PAR at the near-surface
stations and the PAR-interception. In the vegetation period, however, the influence of the fully developed
canopy was more significant than exposition. With increasing PAI, results from regression analysis
for the entire investigation period indicate a linear decrease of PAR/G below the canopy as well as an
exponential increase of PAR-interception within the canopy and a logarithmic decrease of the PARtransmission
through the canopy. The extinction coefficient k for PAR shows a tendency towards
logarithmic decrease with increasing PAI.
Publishing year
2002
Language
German
Pages
301-321
Publication/Series
Forstwissenschaftliches Centralblatt
Volume
121
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Springer
Topic
- Physical Geography
Keywords
- Fagus sylvatica L.
- PAR
- exposition
- forest management
- PAI
- PAR/G
- PAR-interception
- PAR-extinction
- PAR-transmission
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0015-8003