Wind and Snow Loading of Balsam Fir during a Canadian Winter: A Pioneer Study

• Published in: Forests Vol. 11; no. 10; p. 1089
• Main Authors: Duperat, Marine, Gardiner, Barry, Ruel, Jean-Claude
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.10.2020
• Subjects: Abies balsamea; Air temperature; Anemometers; Bending moments; boreal forests; Canopies; Competition; Forest management; Freezing; Gauges; Hunting; Hypotheses; Mechanical properties; modeling; Precipitation; Rigidity; Risk management; Risk reduction; Sensors; Snow; Snow cover; Snow depth; snow monitoring; Soil temperature; Storm damage; Strain gauges; Summer; Temperature sensors; Trees; turning moment; Wind damage; Wind loads; Wind measurement; Wind speed; windthrow; Winter; Canada

Widely distributed across Quebec, balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill) is highly vulnerable to wind damage. The harsh winter conditions, freezing temperatures, and snow pose an additional risk. It is important to find the mechanical loads experienced by trees during winter to adapt forest managemen...