The stability of different silvicultural systems: a wind-tunnel investigation

We report on a wind-tunnel study with 1 : 75 scale model treesdesigned to examine the influence of canopy structure on theformation of turbulent gusts above forests. This was to testthe hypothesis that more irregular canopy structures produceless intense gusts because the change in wind speed with heightat canopy top is less severe. Measurements were made of windspeeds and turbulence within and above the model forests andof the wind loading on model trees in four different silviculturalsystems. The systems tested were even-aged, single-tree selection,shelterwood/group selection and strip felling. The measurementsshowed that the profiles of different mean wind and turbulencecharacteristics above the forests are remarkably similar whenvertical heights are normalized by the height of the tallesttree but differences do exist within the canopy. The wind loadingmeasurements indicated no difference between the systems interms of stability except possibly for the shelterwood/groupselection. In the shelterwood/group selection system the presenceof smaller sub-canopy trees appears to reduce the loading onthe main canopy trees either by providing support and increasingdamping or by absorption of energy from the canopy-penetratinggusts.