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- Title
Snowpack Loss Promotes Soil Freezing and Concrete Frost Formation in a Northeastern Temperate Softwoods Stand.
- Authors
Tatariw, Corianne; Patel, Kaizad; MacRae, Jean D.; Fernandez, Ivan J.
- Abstract
Snowpack produces a thermal layer that protects soil from freezing and provides a pulse of nutrient-rich water in spring. Climate forecasts for Maine indicate 20-60% reduction in snowfall by 2050. In January 2015, we initiated a snow-removal experiment in Old Town, ME to investigate the impact of snow loss on forest soil conditions. Snow removal significantly lowered winter organic horizon temperatures by 2 °C on average. Soils in snow-removal plots were 25% wetter during the vernal transition because precipitation was not intercepted by snow. These rain-on-soil events caused the formation of concrete frost, delaying soil thaw in snow-removal plots. Our results provide evidence that snowpack loss increases soil frost and can also increase soil moisture, potentially altering biotic function within a coniferous forest type.
- Subjects
SOIL freezing; SOIL moisture; FOREST soils; CONIFEROUS forests; BIOTIC potential
- Publication
Northeastern Naturalist, 2017, Vol 24, pB42
- ISSN
1092-6194
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1656/045.024.s707