The impact of forest edge structure on longitudinal patterns of deposition, wind speed, and turbulence

The impact of forest edge structure on edge patterns of wind speed, turbulence, and atmospheric deposition was studied by means of a model forest in a wind tunnel. Tests were conducted with eight structure configurations, encompassing combinations of stem densities, crown depths, and edge transitions (steep or gradual edge). Mean wind speed and its standard deviation (as a measure for turbulence) were determined within and at the top of the canopy; deposition was simulated using Cl− aerosols. Edge patterns of wind speed, turbulence, and deposition were closely related and were significantly affected by stem density and, particularly, by edge transition. In the dense forests, the edge effect on deposition extended less deeply into the forest than in the sparse forests, so the deposition in the forest edge zone was lowered with 40%. Gradual edges were able to limit the level by which deposition is enhanced at the edge in comparison with the forest interior deposition, and consequently, they reduced the deposition in the forest edge zone with 66%. Even when the deposition on the trees of the gradually ascending vegetation in front of the forest edge was taken into account, gradual edges were still advantageous in comparison with steep edges. A lower crown depth decreased the enhancement of deposition at the edge relative to the interior, but only at steep edges. We conclude that an adjusted layout of forest edges should be able to mitigate the edge effects on atmospheric deposition, through reducing the deposition enhancement at the edge or the penetration depth of the edge effect.