Aspen Bibliography

Comparison of the microclimates of a small aspen grove and adjacent prairie in Saskatchewan

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

American Midland Naturalist

Volume

136

Issue

2

First Page

248

Last Page

261

Publication Date

1996

Abstract

The microclimate of a small aspen grove in central Saskatchewan was monitored between December 1993 and April 1995 and compared with that of the adjacent prairie. Inside the grove solar radiation was reduced to 55% in winter and 23% in summer compared with the open prairie. Daily maximum air temperatures averaged 2.5 C higher in the grove just before leaf-out and 1.5 C lower just before leaf fall; daily minimum temperatures averaged ca. 0.4 C lower inside the grove throughout the year. Relative humidity was usually 3-4% higher inside the grove, with daily minima as much as 14% higher during the summer. The aspen grove trapped up to 45 cm of additional snow during the 1st winter, but only 5 cm more during the 2nd winter, when regional snowfall was well below normal. In midsummer the near-surface soil was 6-8 C warmer on the prairie, but by midwinter had become ca. 6 C cooler than in the grove; these differences diminished with depth. The annual range of soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm was 24 C inside the grove compared to 38 C outside. Windspeed inside the grove was reduced to 7% of the external value in summer and to 28% during the winter. Calculated windchill values were 15% lower inside the grove as a result of the reduction in windspeed. The potential importance of aspen groves as wildlife habitat is discussed.

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