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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 2018)
26 Wednesday, November 21, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon PNW woodlands less vulnerable than others in West By Steve Lundeberg Correspondent CORVALLIS – Forests in the Pacific Northwest will be less vulnerable to drought and fire over the next three decades than those in the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada, computer model- ing by researchers in Oregon State University’s College of Forestry shows. The findings, published today in Global Change Biology, represent an impor- tant tool for scientists and land managers because woodlands throughout the western United States are under increasing stress from accelerated rates of drought- related mortality related to global, human-caused cli- mate change. Also, the Northwest’s hemlock, Douglas-fir and redwood forests have tre- mendous potential to coun- teract climate change via their carbon-sequestration abilities, meaning policies that promote stewardship of those forests is critical, the scientists say. “Recent prolonged droughts and catastrophic wildfires in the West have raised concerns about for- est mortality and how that might impact forest structure and ecosystem services and also the economic vitality of nearby communities,” said corresponding author Polly Buotte of OSU’s Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. “Forests in the West support high species diversity and some Pacific Northwest forests are among the high- est carbon-density forests on Earth.” Forests in the West support high species diversity and some Pacific Northwest forests are among the highest carbon-density forests on Earth. — Polly Buotte Buotte and College of Forestry colleague Beverly Law led a collaboration that modeled 13 different major forest types from around the western United States, taking into account climate condi- tions and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels over the next 30 years. The model was high-res- olution both from a spatial standpoint – it broke forests into grids of 16 square kilo- meters – and also because it looked at species-specific responses to environmental variables. “The model calculated multiple biophysical and biogeochemical processes, including surface heat fluxes, photosynthesis, evaporation, transpiration, carbon alloca- tion to plant tissue, decompo- sition and nitrogen cycling,” Buotte said. The researchers, who also included David Rupp of OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, developed metrics of vulnerability to short- term extreme and prolonged drought. “Projections show that water-limited forests in the Rockies, the Southwest and the Great Basin will be the most vulnerable to future drought-related mortality,” Buotte said. “We expect vulnerability to future fires will be highest in the Sierra Nevada and portions of the Rocky Mountains. Forests along the Pacific coast and western Cascades regions, where there is ample rain, are projected to be the least vulnerable to either drought or fire.” Stress from drought causes trees to shed leaves, limiting their capacity for photosynthesis; insect infestations also make life hard for drought-affected trees. “Our analyses indicate strong potential for continued levels of drought-related for- est mortality in the southern Rockies and in the Southwest in the coming decades as those forests are likely to suf- fer from a changing climate,” Buotte said. The researchers stress that there is a lot of spatial vari- ability in future vulnerability. And that fire vulnerability is not the same as fire intensity. “We do not imply that areas labeled highly vul- nerable will burn or that if ignited they will burn with high intensity, but they are at greater risk in the coming years than they have been historically,” Buotte said. The U.S. departments of Agriculture and Energy sup- ported this research. S N O S S E L R E K O P E E FR Perfect for people who know little-to- nothing about the game, but want to learn in a friendly environment For details call Bud, 760-709-0260 To the town of Sisters: Thank you for your business and your friendship. Have a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving. 541-549-RIBS — From the staff at Sweeney Plumbing SistersSaloon.net | 190 E. Cascade Ave. 541-549-4349 260 N. Pine St., Sisters Become a part of a holiday tr adition! Licensed • Bonded • Insured • CCB#875877 Saturday, December 1 FIDDLE CLUB Ages ges 10 and up November 29-February -February 14 Thursdays, 6-7 7 p.m. Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center No experience needed! eded! Free Family Fun Live entertainment & Santa, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact SPRD for or information or to register: gister: SistersRecreation.com on.com 541-549-2091 91 1750 W. McKinney Butte utte Rd. SNO CAP MINI STORAGE Sisters Industrial Park 157 Sisters Park Dr. • 541-549-3575 www.SistersStorage.com • State-of-the-art Security Technology • Sizes from 5x5 to 12x40 • Individual Gate Codes • Long-term Discounts • On-site Manager Gala Event/Tree Auction, Opens at 5 p.m. Gala Tickets: $55 Purchase tickets at hospiceofredmond.org
