scholarly journals Root-Soil Plate Characteristics of Silver Birch on Wet and Dry Mineral Soils in Latvia

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valters Samariks ◽  
Nauris Īstenais ◽  
Andris Seipulis ◽  
Olga Miezīte ◽  
Oskars Krišāns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Depth Distribution ◽  
Silver Birch ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Elliptic Paraboloid ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Canopy Trees ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Mineral Soils

Climate change manifests itself as a change in the probability of extreme weather events, and it is projected that windstorms will become more frequent and intense in Northern Europe. Additionally, the frequency and length of warm periods with wet, unfrozen soil in winter will rise in this region. These factors will lead to an increased risk of storm damages in forests. Factors affecting trees’ resistance to wind uprooting have been well quantified for some species but not for a common and economically important tree, the silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the root-soil plate characteristics of silver birch on wet and dry mineral soils in hemiboreal forests. The root-soil plate and aboveground parameters were measured for 56 canopy trees uprooted in destructive, static-pulling experiments. The shape of the root-soil plate corresponds to the elliptic paraboloid. A decreasing yet slightly different trend was observed in root depth distribution with increasing distance from the stem in both soils. The main factors determining root-soil plate volume were width, which was notably larger on wet mineral soils, and tree diameter at breast height. Consequently, the root-soil plate volume was significantly larger for trees growing on wet mineral soils than for trees growing on dry soils, indicating a wind adaptation.

scholarly journals Structural Root-Plate Characteristics of Wind-Thrown Norway Spruce in Hemiboreal Forests of Latvia

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oskars Krišāns ◽  
Valters Samariks ◽  
Jānis Donis ◽  
Āris Jansons
Keyword(s):  
Norway Spruce ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Rooting Depth ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Individual Tree ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
Root Plate ◽  
Plate Width

An increase in extreme weather events is predicted with increasing climate changes. Changes indicate major problems in the future, as Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) is one of the most important forestry species in Northern Europe and one of the most susceptible to damage from extreme weather events, like windstorms. Root architecture is essential for tree anchorage. However, information of structural root-plate volume and characteristics in relation to tree wind resistance in drained deep peat soils is lacking. Individual tree susceptibility to wind damage is dependent on tree species, soil properties, tree health and root-plate volume. We assessed the structural root-plate dimensions of wind-thrown Norway spruce on freely drained mineral and drained deep peat soils at four trial sites in Latvia, and root-plate measurements were made on 65 recently tipped-up trees and 36 trees from tree-pulling tests on similar soils. Tree height, diameter at breast height, root-plate width and depth were measured. Measurements of structural root-plate width were done in five directions covering 180° of the root-plate; rooting depth was measured on the horizontal and vertical axes of root-plate. Root-plate volume was higher in drained peat soils in comparison to mineral soils, and root-plate width was the main driver of root-plate volume. A decreasing trend was observed in structural root depth distribution with increasing distance from the stem (i.e., from the center to the edge of the root plate) with a greater decrease in mineral soils.

scholarly journals Climate change and the opportunity cost of conflict

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 1935-1940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin R. Roche ◽  
Michèle Müller-Itten ◽  
David N. Dralle ◽  
Diogo Bolster ◽  
Marc F. Müller
Keyword(s):  
Income Distribution ◽  
Theoretical Foundation ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Opportunity Costs ◽  
Climate Anomalies ◽  
Agricultural Income ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Short Run

A growing empirical literature associates climate anomalies with increased risk of violent conflict. This association has been portrayed as a bellwether of future societal instability as the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are predicted to increase. This paper investigates the theoretical foundation of this claim. A seminal microeconomic model of opportunity costs—a mechanism often thought to drive climate–conflict relationships—is extended by considering realistic changes in the distribution of climate-dependent agricultural income. Results advise caution in using empirical associations between short-run climate anomalies and conflicts to predict the effect of sustained shifts in climate regimes: Although war occurs in bad years, conflict may decrease if agents expect more frequent bad years. Theory suggests a nonmonotonic relation between climate variability and conflict that emerges as agents adapt and adjust their behavior to the new income distribution. We identify 3 measurable statistics of the income distribution that are each unambiguously associated with conflict likelihood. Jointly, these statistics offer a unique signature to distinguish opportunity costs from competing mechanisms that may relate climate anomalies to conflict.

scholarly journals Extreme Weather Events and their Consequences

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zbigniew W. Kundzewicz
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Flood Risk ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Weather Extremes ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract The damage (in real terms after adjusting for inflation) caused by extreme weather events globally has increased dramatically over the past few decades. This is a result of an increase in the amplitude and frequency of weather extremes, as well as of human factors causing a widespread increase in levels of exposure and vulnerability. There are a number of reasons to consider that, in many regions of the globe, weather extremes (e.g. heat waves, droughts, forest fires, intense rainfall, floods and landslides) are becoming both yet more extreme and more frequent. Projections for the future based on climate and impact models point to a further strengthening of this trend. There has already been an increase in rainfall intensity in conditions of a warmer climate, and a continuation of this trend is expected, with adverse consequences for flood risk. However, the development of flood-prone areas and increase in damage potential are often the dominant factors underpinning growing flood damage and flood risk. In warmer climates, an increased risk of river and flash flooding caused by heavy rainfall, as well as an increasing risk of coastal flooding associated with sea level rise can be expected over large areas. By the same token, a reduction in the risk of snowmelt flooding events is projected in the warmer climate. Projections also indicate an increased risk of drought in many areas. The projections for climate change in Poland point to several risks associated with an increase in the frequency, intensity and severity of weather extremes (heat waves, intensive rainfall, flooding and landslides, coastal surges, drought during the growing season and winter, strong winds and pathogens associated with warming). Heat waves will become more frequent, more intense and more troublesome for the ageing population of Poland.

Deadly coastal landslides and increased risk due to severe climatic events

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ubydul Haque ◽  
Paula F. da Silva ◽  
Arezoo Soltani
Keyword(s):  
Population Distribution ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Storm Waves ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Landslide Processes ◽  
Near Future

<p>Deadly landslides are becoming more frequent and disruptive with increasingly severe weather events associated with a changing climate. These changes are putting coastal slopes under stress due to extreme climatic events that contribute to their instability by two processes: due to intense rainfall and also to important storm waves that rise to unusual heights in coastal areas affected by atmospheric depressions. This study was conducted in 83 coastal locations to investigate the climate-induced extreme rainfall, population density and detect the role of severity of hurricane/cyclone where deadly landslides reported worldwide since 1995 to 2018. The global landslide database was used to locate and analyze sea cliffs already under stress where deadly landslides are reported. The analysis was conducted using R (ver 3.5.1) and ArcGIS (ver 10.4.1) software. Population distribution, the severity of hurricanes/ cyclones and extreme rainfall proved the strongest predictor of deadly landslides in coastal areas particularly in the Caribbean and Southeast Asian countries. This research will help improve resilience and forecast future erosion and hot spots for cliff retreat and will contribute not only to our understanding of landslide processes associated with extreme weather events but will also enlighten decision-makers and help them manage the coastal changes in the near future.</p>

scholarly journals Effects of Thinning Practice, High Pruning and Slash Management on Crop Tree and Stand Growth in Young Even-Aged Stands of Planted Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth)

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 225
Author(s):  
Jens Peter Skovsgaard ◽  
Ulf Johansson ◽  
Emma Holmström ◽  
Rebecka McCarthy Tune ◽  
Clémentine Ols ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Volume Growth ◽  
Stem Diameter ◽  
Silver Birch ◽  
Stand Volume ◽  
Annual Increase ◽  
Stand Growth ◽  
Thinning Intensity ◽  
Betula Pendula Roth ◽  
Increased Risk

The objective was to quantify the influence of thinning, high pruning and slash management on crop tree and stand growth in young even-aged stands of planted silver birch (Betula pendula Roth). This study was based on two field experiments, aged six and eleven years at initiation and re-measured after six and eight years, respectively. Treatments included the unthinned control, moderate thinning mainly from below (removing 28–33% of standing volume), point thinning to favor 300 trees per ha and with no thinning elsewhere in the plot (removing 16–25%), and heavy thinning leaving 600 evenly distributed potential future crop trees per ha (removing 64–75%). Slash management (extraction or retention) was applied to heavily thinned plots. High pruning removing 30–70% of the green crown was carried out in some plots with point or heavy thinning on 300 or 600 trees per ha, respectively. Stand volume growth increased with increasing pre-treatment mean annual volume increment and decreased with increasing thinning intensity as compared to the unthinned control. LS-means estimates indicated a reduction for moderate thinning by 14%, for point thinning by 12% and for heavy thinning (combined with pruning) by 62%. However, in the youngest experiment, heavy thinning (without pruning) reduced growth by 54%. Combining these results with results from a similar experiment in Canada, the reduction in stand volume growth (RedIv%) depending on thinning removal (RemV%), both expressed as a percentage of the unthinned control, was quantified as RedIv% = −23.67 + 1.16·RemV% (calibration range: 30–83%). For heavy thinning (large quantities of slash), slash extraction resulted in no reduction in stand volume growth as compared to slash retention. The instantaneous numeric reduction in the average stem diameter of the 300 thickest trees per ha (D300) due to thinning was 3.5, 15–21% and 955–11% with moderate, point and heavy thinning, respectively. The subsequent average annual increase in D300 during the observation period was 8.5%, 25 and 18%, respectively. In the youngest experiment, pruning in unthinned plots led to a reduction in the annual increase of D300 by 14%, and heavy thinning in unpruned plots led to an increase by 30%. The growth of pre-selected potential future crop trees increased with increasing thinning intensity. In heavily thinned plots, pruning reduced growth increasingly with increasing pruning severity; LS-means estimates indicated 21% larger growth on stem diameter for unpruned trees and 3% for pruned trees. As an adverse side effect, heavily thinned plots with only 600 trees per ha were at increased risk of windthrow for some years after the thinning intervention. In the oldest experiment, 95–21% of the trees in these plots were damaged by wind.

scholarly journals The Quantity and Biochemical Composition of Sap Collected from Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth) Trees Growing in Different Soils

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 365
Author(s):  
Justas Mingaila ◽  
Dovilė Čiuldienė ◽  
Pranas Viškelis ◽  
Edmundas Bartkevičius ◽  
Vladas Vilimas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biochemical Composition ◽  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Silver Birch ◽  
Nutrient Contents ◽  
Betula Pendula Roth ◽  
Market Sector ◽  
Birch Trees ◽  
Crown Base Height ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
Different Soils

Birch sap is colourless or slightly opalescent and is traditionally drunk in spring. Currently, birch sap is becoming more important in the market sector as well as to pharmacy companies due to its biochemical composition and use in a wide variety of products. To extract good quality sap using birch resources in a sustainable way, there is a need to investigate the influence of the dendrometric parameters of birch trees and soil properties on the quantity and chemical composition of birch sap. This study is performed in five silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) forest stands growing in Histosol, Luvisol and Arenosol with different moisture and nutrient contents. The results indicated that the most productive silver birch trees for sap harvesting were taller than 28 m, had a diameter at breast height over 40 cm and a crown base height greater than 19 m. Additionally, the highest quantity of birch sap was harvested from trees growing in well-aerated mineral soils (Arenosol and Luvisol) with normal moisture content. However, the sweetest birch sap was harvested from trees growing in nutrient-rich organic (undrained peatland Histosol) and temporarily flooded mineral (Luvisol) soils.

Frequency of extreme weather events and increased risk of motor vehicle collision in Maryland

2017 ◽  
Vol 580 ◽  
pp. 550-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Liu ◽  
Sutyajeet I. Soneja ◽  
Chengsheng Jiang ◽  
Chanjuan Huang ◽  
Timothy Kerns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Motor Vehicle Collision ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Vehicle Collision ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Increased Risk
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