Influence of Mountain Spruce Forest Dieback on Snow Accumulation and Melt

Author:

Bartík Martin1,Holko Ladislav2,Jančo Martin13,Škvarenina Jaroslav1,Danko Michal2,Kostka Zdeněk2

Affiliation:

1. Department of Natural Environment, Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, 960 01 Zvolen , Slovakia

2. Institute of Hydrology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 841 04 Bratislava , Slovakia

3. Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Technical University in Zvolen, T. G. Masaryka 24, 960 01 Zvolen , Slovakia

Abstract

Abstract Large-scale forest dieback was reported in recent decades in many parts of the world. In Slovakia, the most endangered species is Norway spruce (Picea Abies). Spruce dieback affects also indigenous mountain forests. We analysed changes in snow cover characteristics in the disturbed spruce forest representing the tree line zone (1420 m a.s.l.) in the Western Tatra Mountains, Slovakia, in five winter seasons 2013-2017. Snow depth, density and water equivalent (SWE) were measured biweekly (10-12 times per winter) at four sites representing the living forest (Living), disturbed forest with dead trees (Dead), forest opening (Open) and large open area outside the forest (Meadow). The data confirmed statistically significant differences in snow depth between the living and disturbed forest. These differences increased since the third winter after forest dieback. The differences in snow density between the disturbed and living forest were in most cases not significant. Variability of snow density expressed by coefficient of variation was approximately half that of the snow depth. Forest dieback resulted in a significant increase (about 25%) of the water amount stored in the snow while the snowmelt characteristics (snowmelt beginning and time of snow disappearance) did not change much. Average SWE calculated for all measurements conducted during five winters increased in the sequence Living < Dead < Meadow < Open. SWE variability expressed by the coefficient of variation increased in the opposite order.

Publisher

Walter de Gruyter GmbH

Subject

Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes,Mechanical Engineering,Water Science and Technology

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