Influence of Canopy Structure of a Primitive Korean Pine Forest on Snow
Accumulation in Xiaoxing'an Mountains of China and its Simulation Study
Abstract
Snowfall, snow accumulation, and stand structure in a primitive Korean
pine forest of the Xiaoxing’an Mountains, China, were assessed for 2
consecutive years. Moreover, a physical mechanism-based snow
accumulation model, which can be applicable to stand-scale forests, was
introduced to simulate snow accumulation in the studied region. The
results showed that the mean atmospheric temperature was −17°C during
the snow accumulation period. Snow density was lower during snow
accumulation period but slightly higher when snow melted. Moreover, when
snow accumulated, snow water equivalent was significantly higher in
forest clearings than beneath dense canopies, with a maximum difference
of >50%. The variability of snow water equivalent in
forest clearings was relatively low, whereas that beneath dense canopies
was higher. The maximum snow accumulation in the forest indicated a
significant negative correlation with canopy density, tree height,
effective leaf area, and slope, whereas it indicated a significant
positive correlation with canopy width. However, no significant
correlation was noted between the maximum snow accumulation and diameter
at breast height, basal area, or canopy height. The effective leaf area
index and canopy density of the primitive Korean pine forest in this
region could be well explained using a power function. As snow
accumulated, the presence of forest canopy significantly affected the
spatial distribution of snow accumulation in the forest. When snow
melted, atmospheric temperature was the main factor controlling snow
melting. Canopy density, slope, and canopy width showed a significant
impact on maximum snow water equivalent; this factor increased with a
decrease in canopy density and slope and with an increase in canopy
width. In the present study, slope was selected as one of the main
factors affecting snow accumulation in the forest. Therefore, future
studies on snow accumulation models should incorporate slope as a
parameter to improve simulation accuracy.