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SUMMER-STORM DAMAGES OF EUROPEAN ASPEN STANDS IN HEMIBOREAL FORESTS
Abstract
European aspen (Populus tremula L.) is fast growing, almost exclusively naturally regenerated trees species, significant for biodiversity, but also with notable financial value. It is prone to browsing damages and rot. Limited information on traits important to wind resistance had been collected so far and used to adapt models predicting wind damages in stands of these tree species. Main storms affect Northern Europe during winter time (when trees are at leaf-less state), however, summer storms are becoming frequent common and, with climate change, the vegetation period is increasing. Therefore information on wind damages in such tree state are important. Aim of our study was to assess the damages caused by summer wind-storm in European aspen stands. Information of aspen with diameter at breast height (DBH) between 6 and 75 cm was collected in stands affected by storm of June 2021 in Northern part of Latvia. Tree heights, height of the green crown base and DBH were measured for wind-affected and unaffected trees. For broken trees the damage height was measured, for leaning or bent – the tilt angle. Tree-scale parameters affecting probability and type of wind damages were calculated and compared to the previous assessments from controlled tree pulling tests and primarily winter storms. The loss of financial value due to damaged assortments was calculated.
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