Table 1 . --Characteristics of lysimeter stations , Priest River Experimental Forest, Idaho 











: Description of 



station site : 



Hori zontal 



Lysimeter 

 station 



. Aspect 



.Elevation . 



Slope 

 incli- 

 nation 



. Small ; 

 . opening 



Undisturbed ; 

 forest . 



distance to 



nearest 

 tree crown 







r eez 



Percent 









40 



N 



4,000 



27 





Range of domi- 

 nant tree 

 heights, 120- 

 140 feet; crown 

 closure, 90- 







39 



N 



4,000 



30 



Circular- shaped 

 clearing, diam- 

 eter averages 





14 



42 



N 



4,300 



48 





Range of domi- 

 nant tree 

 heights, 120- 

 140 feet; crown 



100% 







45 



N 



4,300 



38 



Clearcut -Strip, 

 50 by 600 feet, 

 long-axis 

 oriented N-S 





25 



47 



S 



4,600 



44 





Range of domi- 

 nant tree 

 heights, 90-100 

 feet; crown 

 closure, 20-30% 







49 



S 



4,600 



51 



Clearcut-strip, 

 50 by 650 feet, 

 long-axis 

 oriented N-S 





25 



During a snowstorm the loading of snow in the canopy is determined by comparing 

 the rate of snow catch in the precipitation gage in the forest with the rate measured 

 in the small opening. A rapid rate of catch in the small opening occurring simultane- 

 ously with a substantial reduced rate of catch in the forest indicates that the trees 

 are loading. If little or no snow slides off the canopy into the precipitation gage 

 between storms, it is assumed the canopy is retaining its snow load. This documental 

 evidence is partially confirmed by weekly visits to the sites. 



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