Pacific Southwest

Title: Summer evapotranspiration trends as related to time following logging of high elevation forest stands in Sierra Nevada

Author: "Ziemer, Robert R."

Date: 1963

Source: "M.S. thesis, University of California, Berkeley, California. 79 pages."

Description: "Abstract - The quantity of summer soil moisture loss from logged forest openings was related to the length of time since the creation of the opening in a study made in the subalpine forest zone of the Sierra Nevada west-side near the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory, California, within the elevational range of 6,000 to 7,000 feet. Soil moisture depletion was measured in logged forest openings which were created in 1959, 1955, 1950, and 1948, and in the forest surrounding these openings. At the period of maximum soil moisture depletion, openings 1 year old were found to have 6.9 inches more soil moisture per 4-foot soil than did the surrounding forest which is an expression of the quantity of moisture saved as a result of the logging operation. In openings 5 years old the savings has decreased to 2.9 inches, after 10 years to 1.2 inches and after 12 years to 0.7 inches. A projection of the regression indicates that the moisture savings at maximum depletion will reach zero 16 years after cutting. Soil moisture depletion is traced through two summer depletion seasons and into the fall moisture recharge periods. The effect of soil field capacity soil depth, ground cover, and summer precipitation upon soil moisture depletion trends also is discussed."

Keywords: "PSW4351, soils, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, logging, water"

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Citation

"Ziemer, Robert R."  1963.  Summer evapotranspiration trends as related to time following logging of high elevation forest stands in Sierra Nevada.   "M.S. thesis, University of California, Berkeley, California. 79 pages.".