Hungerford, Roger D.; Babbitt, Ronald E. Overstory removal and residue treatments 

 affect soil surface, air, and soil temperature: implications for seedling survival. 

 Research Paper INT-377. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Ser- 

 vice, Intermountain Research Station; 1987. 19 p. 



Potentially lethal ground surface temperatures were measured at three locations in 

 the Northern Rocky Mountains but occurred more frequently under treatments with 

 greater overstory removal. Observed maximum and minimum temperatures of ex- 

 posed surfaces are directly related to the thermal properties of the surface materials. 

 Survival of planted seedlings was consistent with the pattern of potentially lethal 

 temperatures. Care in manipulating overstory canopies and residues can enhance the 

 potential for tree seedling survival. 



KEYWORDS: temperature, seedling survival, timber harvesting, thermal properties 



