The Impact of Visual Defects and Neighboring Trees on Wind-Related Tree Failures

• Published in: Forests Vol. 13; no. 7; p. 978
• Main Authors: Nelson, Michael F, Klein, Ryan W, Koeser, Andrew K, Landry, Shawn M, Kane, Brian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.07.2022
• Subjects: Abnormalities; cyclone; Dead wood; defect; Defects; Environmental aspects; Failure; Failure analysis; Forest management; hurricane; Hurricanes; Influence; likelihood of failure; Methods; Neighborhoods; Physiological aspects; Risk assessment; Spatial analysis; Storm damage; Suburban areas; Trees; Trees in cities; typhoon; Urban areas; Urban forests; Wind; Winds; Windthrow; United States
• DOI: 10.3390/f13070978
• ISSN: 1999-4907

Urban trees are often more sun- and wind-exposed than their forest-grown counterparts. These environmental differences can impact how many species grow–impacting trunk taper, crown spread, branch architecture, and other aspects of tree form. Given these differences, windthrow models derived from traditional forest production data sources may not be appropriate for urban forest management. Additionally, visual abnormalities historically labeled as “defects” in timber production, may not have a significant impact on tree failure potential. In this study, we look at urban tree failures associated with Hurricane Irma in Tampa, Florida, USA. We used spatial analysis to determine if patterns of failure existed among our inventoried trees. We also looked at risk assessment data to determine which visual defects were the most common and the most likely to be associated with branch or whole-tree failure. Results indicate that there was no spatial pattern associated with the observed tree failures–trees failed or withstood the storm as individuals. While some defects like decay and dead wood were associated with increased tree failure, other defects such as weak branch unions and poor branch architecture were less problematic.