A Modelling System for Dead Wood Assessment in the Forests of Northern Eurasia

Abstract

Dead wood, including coarse woody debris, CWD, and fine woody debris, FWD, plays a substantial role in forest ecosystem functioning. However, the amount and dynamics of dead wood in the forests of Northern Eurasia are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to develop a spatially distributed modelling system (limited to the territories of the former Soviet Union) to assess the amount and structure of dead wood by its components (including snags, logs, stumps, and the dry branches of living trees) based on the most comprehensive database of field measurements to date. The system is intended to be used to assess the dead wood volume and the amount of dead wood in carbon units as part of the carbon budget calculation of forests at different scales. It is presented using multi-dimensional regression equations of dead wood expansion factors (DWEF)—the ratio of the dead wood component volume to the growing stock volume of the stands. The system can be also used for the accounting of dead wood stock and its dynamics in national greenhouse gas inventories and UNFCCC reporting. The system’s accuracy is satisfactory for the average level of disturbance regimes but it may require corrections for regions with accelerated disturbance regimes.

Influence of meteorological factors on the moisture content of fine forest fuels: responses of fire danger class to different microclimates on the example of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands

“…Climate change processes are occurring faster in the boreal and temperate territories (Melo et al, 2013). Although global warming increases the length of the vegetation season (Gordeev and Pyzhev, 2023;Ziernicka-Wojtaszek, 2019) it also poses a threat of increased frequency and severity of drought and forest fires (Jokanović et al, 2020;Shvidenko et al, 2023;Živanović et al, 2020), increased pest infestations (Ivantsova et al, 2019;Mezei et al, 2017) and shortening of the winter period of snow water accumulation (Bartík et al, 2014(Bartík et al, , 2016Jeníček et al, 2017). Based on the above, we understand the issue of forest fires in the context of environmental changes taking place in the landscape under conditions of emerging climate change.…”

Balance of Anthropogenic and Natural Greenhouse Gas Fluxes Over the Territory of the Russian Federation and the Contribution of Sequestration in Forests

“…The models used allow estimation of wood stocks of a particular species, certain bonitet and age in 1-year increments. Similarly, models by [38] are used to estimate stocks of different fractions of dead wood (dead standing trees, dry branches, dead-fallen wood, stumps) in 1-year increments. Current growth is estimated as the difference in growing and dead wood stocks from growth models at a given age and one year ago.…”

Quantitative Estimates of Direct Pyrogenic Carbon Emissions in Forests of Russia According to Remote Monitoring Data 2021

“…6, NO 1. ARTICLE 122 (Shvidenko et al, 2008; (4) coarse woody debris (Shvidenko et al, 2009); and (5) forest litter (Schepaschenko et al, 2013).…”