The prediction of uneven snowpack response to forest thinning informs forest restoration in the central Sierra Nevada

Ecohydrology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 16(7)

Published: Aug. 29, 2023

Abstract The Sierra Nevada has experienced unprecedented wildfires and reduced snowmelt runoff in recent decades, due partially to anthropogenic climate change over a century of fire suppression. To address these challenges, public land agencies are planning forest restoration treatments, which have the potential both increase water availability reduce likelihood uncontrollable wildfires. However, impact on snowpack is site specific not well understood across gradients topography. improve our understanding how might diverse conditions central Nevada, we run high‐resolution (1 m) energy mass balance Snow Physics Lidar Mapping (SnowPALM) model five 23–75 km 2 subdomains region where thinning planned or recently completed. We conduct two virtual experiments by removing all trees shorter than 10 20 m tall rerunning SnowPALM calculate meltwater input. Our results indicate heterogeneous responses differences wind subdomains. also predict largest increases snow retention when forests with (7–20 dense (40–70% canopy cover) trees, highlighting importance pre‐thinning vegetation structure. develop decision support tool using random determine regions would most benefit from thinning. In many locations, expect major accumulation, while other areas short sparse canopies, as sunny windy climates, more likely see decreased following provides stand‐scale (30 information managers best take advantage existing structure obtain greatest benefits restoration.

Language: Английский

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Reforestation effects on low flows: Review of public perceptions and scientific evidence

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 11, 2024

Abstract This review article focuses on the complex relationships between forests and water, particularly effects of streamflow during meteorological droughts. The impact water resources is a long‐standing research topic, but there are also many common beliefs that not based scientific evidence or only selective evidence. We critically examine origin some public misconceptions wealth studies how precipitation, soil dynamics, evapotranspiration, streamflow. Generally, reforestation increases evapotranspiration decreases groundwater recharge However, evaporated will return as potentially offsetting increased losses. Where leads to more extensive infiltration due soil's hydraulic properties, it might increase dry periods. Although these individual processes have been studied, predicting impacts remains challenging site‐specific depend factors, such climate, forest‐ soil‐characteristics before after reforestation, hydrogeological setting. accurate nuanced understanding role hydrology better ability predict where when net positive negative crucial for sustainable forest management. categorized under: Science Water > Environmental Change Hydrological Processes Engineering Sustainable

Language: Английский

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Quantifying the Impacts of Fire‐Related Perturbations in WRF‐Hydro Terrestrial Water Budget Simulations in California's Feather River Basin

Hydrological Processes, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(11)

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

ABSTRACT Wildfire activity in the western United States (WUS) is increasingly impacting water supply, and land surface models (LSMs) that do not explicitly account for fire disturbances can have critical uncertainties burned areas. This study quantified responses from Weather Research Forecasting Hydrological modelling system (WRF‐Hydro) to a suite of fire‐related perturbations hydrologic soil runoff parameters, vegetation area, cover classifications associated properties, snow albedo across heavily Feather River Basin California. These experiments were used quantify impacts model simulations under observed meteorological conditions during 2000–2022 years determine whether applying these enhanced post‐fire accuracy 11–12 months evaluated herein. The most comprehensive fire‐aware simulation consistently modelled annual catchment streamflow (by 8%–37%), subsurface flow 72%–116%), moisture 4%–9%), relative baseline which neglected impacts. Simulated fire‐enhanced was predominately attributable fire‐induced area reductions reduced transpiration. enhancements occurred throughout year, excluding early‐summer (e.g., May–June) when relatively more snowmelt because caused earlier depletion. Vegetation favoured increased ground accumulation ablation while imposed darkening ablation, ultimately resulting similar peak SWE disappearance (on average by 8‐days) simulation. had large degradations following major events likely partially neglecting disturbances. Applying anomaly biases three catchments. However, remaining fire‐perturbed underscores importance additional observationally constrained fire‐disturbance developments.

Language: Английский

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Eco-hydrological responses of the Black Dragon fire in three forested basins in the Daxing’an Mountains, northeast China

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 145, P. 109623 - 109623

Published: Nov. 2, 2022

Understanding how bushfire affects basin-wide ecohydrological processes is critical for ecological restoration and water supply. However, the mechanisms responsible post-fire streamflow remain poorly explored in forested basins of China due to complex scale-dependent relationships between fire-induced forest changes processes, lack reasonable design paired watershed experiments, especially data scarcity. Here, we re-examine responses Black Dragon fire (one largest most damaging fires on record globally) an annual scale three (two fire-impacted basins, namely Emuer Pangu, a nearly unimpacted basin, Huma) Daxing'an Mountains using multiple recent datasets methods. We found that decreased annual- basin-averaged vegetation leaf area, evapotranspiration, interception loss, transpiration, soil moisture, runoff, discharge capacity 1987 two compared with basin. The evapotranspiration (runoff) did not reduce (increase) as much expected LAI given precipitation amount which properly linked quick postfire regrowth growing season. Vegetation area productivity can quickly recover following years postfire, but hydrological systems need more than 10 adapt this disturbance. These findings improve understanding disturbance provide scientific evidence protection resources management under intensified natural anthropogenic disturbances.

Language: Английский

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Regrowth Drives Long-Term Water Yield Changes after Forest Mitigation Under Potential Future Climate

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Alignment between water inputs and vegetation green‐up reduces next year's runoff efficiency

Hydrological Processes, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 38(6)

Published: June 1, 2024

Abstract In the western United States, water supplies largely originate as snowmelt from forested land. Forests impact balance of these headwater streams, yet most predictive runoff models do not explicitly account for changing snow‐vegetation dynamics. Here, we present a case study showing how warmer temperatures and forests in Henrys Fork Snake River, seasonally snow‐covered basin Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, have altered relationship between April 1st snow equivalent (SWE) summer streamflow. Since onset recovery severe drought early 2000s, based on pre‐drought relationships over‐predict all three tributaries Fork, despite minimal changes precipitation or accumulation. Compared with period, late springs summers (May–September) are vegetation is greener denser due to multiple historical disturbances. Shifts alignment energy availability may reduce efficiency by amount that goes evapotranspiration versus recharge. To quantify timeframe needed models, propose new metric, Vegetation‐Water Alignment Index (VWA), characterize synchrony greenness rain inputs. New show addition SWE, previous year's VWA reference significant predictors each watershed provide more power than traditionally used metrics. These results suggest timing relative start growing season affects only annual partitioning streamflow, but can also determine groundwater storage state dictates following spring.

Language: Английский

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Quantifying Aspect‐Dependent Snowpack Response to High‐Elevation Wildfire in the Southern Rocky Mountains

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 60(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Abstract Increasing wildfire frequency and severity in high‐elevation seasonal snow zones presents a considerable water resource management challenge across the western United States (U.S.). Wildfires can affect snowpack accumulation melt patterns, altering quantity timing of runoff. While prior research has shown that generally increases rates advances disappearance dates, uncertainties remain regarding variations complex terrain energy balance between burned unburned areas. Utilizing paired situ data sources within 2020 Cameron Peak burn area on Front Range Colorado, U.S., during 2021–2022 winter, we found no significant difference peak equivalent (SWE) magnitude However, south aspect reached SWE 22 days earlier than north. During ablation period, were 71% faster rates, whereas north 94% aspects. Snow disappeared 7–11 areas Net differences at weather station sites seasonally variable, lost more net but gained spring. Increased incoming shortwave radiation site was 6 x impactful decline surface albedo. These findings emphasize need for post‐wildfire planning accounts aspect‐dependent mass to accurately predict storage runoff timing.

Language: Английский

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A Future Without Control Basins: Compound Forest Disturbance and the Disappearance of Undisturbed Forested Catchments in the Western United States

Ecohydrology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 29, 2024

ABSTRACT In recent decades, forest disturbances caused by wildfire, insect and disease‐induced mortality drought have increased in frequency magnitude, especially the Western United States. Forest been shown to alter water budget partitioning. However, response disturbance is inconsistent still being characterized within hydrology (FDH) literature. this review synthesis, we evaluate how FDH literature has grown decades (2000–2021), extract papers discussing compound (or overlapping) We then compare findings with actual prevalence of (caused insects disease) forested catchments States, at HUC‐8, −10 −12 scales. find that 94% HUC‐8 basins, 85% HUC‐10 60% HUC‐12 basins experienced wildfire insect/disease over period 2000–2022, virtually, no remain undisturbed. These figures contrast literature, where relatively few studies hydrologic implications disturbances. suggest not ‘meeting moment’ perhaps, more critically, true control ‘static’) are nearly nonexistent highlight as a community ecohydrologists, must rethink assess post‐disturbance This will require better tools (e.g., models) hydrology, observations cross‐disciplinary collaborations between forestry communities.

Language: Английский

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How Are Pine Species Responding to Soil Drought and Climate Change in the Iberian Peninsula?

Forests, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(8), P. 1530 - 1530

Published: July 26, 2023

This study investigates the relationship between soil moisture and growth of Pinus halepensis, P. nigra, sylvestris uncinata, which are some main pine species Iberian Peninsula, response these to drought. The role played by climatic geographic factors in resilience drought events is also evaluated. A total 110 locations four studied were selected, with data ranging from 1950 2007. results show that less dependent on best withstood droughts, while those more it showed better adaptability. Additionally, had a stronger influence species’ at higher altitudes. this can help us understand forest ecosystem dynamics their reaction droughts Mediterranean areas, where phenomenon will be much severe future due climate change.

Language: Английский

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Changes in Streamflow Statistical Structure across the United States due to Recent Climate Change

EarthArXiv (California Digital Library), Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 26, 2022

A variety of watershed responses to climate change are expected due non-linear interactions between various hydrologic processes acting at different timescales that modulated by properties. Changes in statistical structure (spectral properties) streamflow the USA were studied for water years 1980-2013. The Fractionally differenced Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (FARIMA) model was fit deseasonalized time series its structure. FARIMA allows separation into low- (slowly varying) and high-frequency (fast components. Results show snow-dominated watersheds, contribution low-frequency components total variance decreased over study period, increased. watersheds primarily driven changes rainfall statistics snow equivalent but also seasonal temperature statistics. Among rain-driven generally increased arid regions humid regions. In both increasing winter appears be responsible These results have consequences predictability presence change. We expect component will result streamflow. Further, analysis carried out this understand plausible affect without using process-based or conceptual models.

Language: Английский

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