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Abstract Snowpack accumulation in forested watersheds depends on the amount of snow intercepted in the canopy and its partitioning into sublimation, unloading, and melt. A lack of canopy snow measurements limits our ability to evaluate models that simulate canopy processes and predict snowpack. We tested whether monitoring changes in wind‐induced tree sway is a viable technique for detecting snow interception and quantifying canopy snow water equivalent (SWE). Over a 6 year period in Colorado, we monitored hourly sway of two conifers, each instrumented with an accelerometer sampling at 12 Hz. We developed an approach to distinguish changes in sway frequency due to thermal effects on tree rigidity versus intercepted snow mass. Over 60% of days with canopy snow had a sway signal that could not be distinguished from thermal effects. However, larger changes in tree sway could not generally be attributed to thermal effects, and canopy snow was present 93%–95% of the time, as confirmed with classified PhenoCam imagery. Using sway tests, we converted changes in sway to canopy SWE, which were correlated with total snowstorm amounts from a nearby SNOTEL site (Spearmanr = 0.72 to 0.80,p < 0.001). Greater canopy SWE was associated with storm temperatures between −7°C and 0°C and wind speeds less than 4 m s−1. Lower canopy SWE prevailed in storms with lower temperatures and higher wind speeds. Monitoring tree sway is a viable approach for quantifying canopy SWE, but challenges remain in converting changes in sway to mass and distinguishing thermal and snow mass effects on tree sway.
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Monitoring Tree Sway as an Indicator of Interception Dynamics Before, During, and Following a Storm
Abstract Understanding the role of trees in attenuating the timing and magnitude of effective precipitation reaching the land surface requires improved monitoring of interception dynamics. We developed a new field monitoring approach to leverage continuous monitoring of tree sway motion in quantifying continuous, dynamic time series of canopy water storage during storms. Using this approach, we additionally observed a hysteretic interception response in tree canopies, which indicates that interpreting interception processes through tree sway signals requires the consideration of changing water (i.e., mass) distribution during and following storms. These findings suggest that continuously monitoring tree sway motions offers a new technique to quantify interception processes. This advancement in whole tree interception may help improve our understanding of how interception affects ecosystem water availability/productivity and runoff dynamics that are important for both natural ecosystems and stormwater management in cities.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1700983
- PAR ID:
- 10366589
- Publisher / Repository:
- DOI PREFIX: 10.1029
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Volume:
- 48
- Issue:
- 20
- ISSN:
- 0094-8276
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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