Estimating Wind Speeds of Convective Storms from Tree Damage

Lee E Frelich,Ernest J Ostuno

doi:10.55599/ejssm.v7i9.45

Lee E Frelich, Ernest J Ostuno

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.55599/ejssm.v7i9.45

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Abstract

In much of the central and eastern United States, tree damage is typically the most common damage indicator available to National Weather Service meteorologists estimating wind speeds from convective storms. Unfortunately, most meteorologists have little or no formal training in the susceptibility of trees to high winds, and the Enhanced Fujita scale does not address many of the various factors that affect the wind tolerance of trees. This study attempts to describe these factors and to provide a strategy for integrating them when estimating wind speeds based on tree damage. Several case studies are used to illustrate the problems and possibilities in deriving a more detailed damage scale than currently exists.

Highlights

IntroductionWindthrow (uprooting or snapping of trees during high wind events) is an important ecological process, a common type of damage from severe weather due to trees falling on cars, houses and power lines, and an indicator used in post-storm assessment of storm severity
Windthrow is an important ecological process, a common type of damage from severe weather due to trees falling on cars, houses and power lines, and an indicator used in post-storm assessment of storm severity
The objective of this study is to review what is known about stability of trees in high winds in both forest and urban settings, present some illustrative case studies of windthrow, and assess the current state of knowledge and possibilities for future improvements to the enhanced Fujita (EF) scale for treebased damage indicators (DIs)

Summary

Introduction

Windthrow (uprooting or snapping of trees during high wind events) is an important ecological process, a common type of damage from severe weather due to trees falling on cars, houses and power lines, and an indicator used in post-storm assessment of storm severity. Rich et al (2007) and Webb (1999) suggest that hardwood and softwood tree species vary significantly in susceptibility to windthrow due to factors such as age and size. Important factors in determining DoD include site characteristics such as topography and exposure to wind (Kupfer et al 2008; Ruel, 2000), soil type and rooting conditions (Nicoll et al 2006; Elie and Ruel 2005), and physical characteristics of trees such as crown size and shape (Eloy 2011; James et al 2006; Kane et al 2008)

30 December 2012

Overview of tree mortality and wind Disturbance

Findings

Field observations of wind disturbance