Impact of clearcutting of coniferous forest on the surface radiation balance.
Abstract
Daily net radiation by clear felled areas in a 60-yr-old Abies balsamea forest was reduced by 10% compared with a forested control when both were wet, and 22% when both were dry. Daily mean reflection coefficients for the forest were 0.07-0.08, compared with 0.12-0.17 for clear felled areas. Hourly reflection coefficients for the forest showed no change with zenith angle, whereas those for clear felled areas increased slightly at zenith angles greater than 70 deg . Over a period of 4 yr, regeneration of clear felled areas was not sufficient to cause any significant change in daily net radiation. From author's summary.