Devils Windstorm - California Forest Pest Council

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Devils Postpile National Monument Park
Devils Windstorm:
Super Storm
Response
Research
Rebirth of Forest Mosaic
oE X P E R I E N C E
Y O U R?
AMERICA
National Weather Service, Rhet Milne
Meterologist/Extreme Weather Events
How Strong is 150 mph Sustained Winds?
EF3 Tornado!
How Strong is 150 mph Sustained
Winds
Category 4 Hurricane!
Duration of East Wind Events
Wind Event
Hours Gusts > 100 mph
Hours Gusts > 120 mph
Devils Windstorm
15
14
November 21st
12
4
December 11th
6
2
November 29th
2
0
October 28th
8
4
Comparing Top 5 East Wind
Events the Past 12 Years
Event
Wind & Gusts
Devils Windstorm
150 & 180 mph
-13C 14C
35 mb
October 28th
92
& 120 mph
-15C 10C
21 mb
November 29th
87
& 110 mph
-16C 11C
20 mb
December 11th
102 & 127 mph
-14C 16C
20 mb
70
-12C 13C
23 mb
November 21st
in Satellite or Model data
& 120 mph
700 mb T & MSLP Gradient
T Gradient
Why a Super storm?
•Exceptionally
strong pressure gradients drove the NE WindsJet
•Stream
Touchdown very unlikely and not observed in Satellite or
Model data
Topography and winds were perfectly aligned for downslope
windstorm in NE/SW oriented steep drainage
•Stability,
pressure gradients, topography favored a “Hydraulic Jump”
downslope windstorm accelerating and intensifying the speeds.
•High
speeds and Long Duration Record Breaking
Most Severe impacts: UMFSJ:
Topography and winds were perfectly aligned for downslope windstorm in
NE/SW oriented steep drainage
Stability, pressure gradients, topography favored a “Hydraulic Jump”
downslope windstorm
EXPERIENCE
YOUR
AMERICA
Backcountry travelers discover the damage
Devils Postpile Blowdown Results
and Recovery
Reds Meadow Valley Road
Trail damage
Inyo National Forest
Impassable trail
segments reported by
INF in Feb 2012
North
2012
2010
North
2012
2010
Dual Purpose

Clear and Open
Trails/Facilities

Reduce Heightened
Fire Hazards
Multiple Challenges
:
Magnitude of
Work
 What to do with
Downed Wood
 Hazardous
Conditions for
Crews and Visitors

Magnitude of Work needs
Magnitude of Partners
Special Thanks to
USFS Beverly Buloan,
And Brian Mattos
YOSE , Sequoia Kings
Fuels Crew and Inyo
Fire Crew =
Dozens of people for
Thousands of Trees
26 Tons of Downed Wood =7 days
Remove
Flashy Fuels
From Visitor
Use/Ranger
Area
What to do with Downed Wood:
Green Loads!
Mammoth Disposal brings
over 50,000 pounds to
Benton Landfill to
Chip For Dust Abatement
Contribute to problem-solving for
imported firewood
Another Silverpests
Lining:
pests
Provide pest-free local
firewood to NPS Campers
(20 cords thus far)
Continued Efforts for Reducing
Fire Hazards

The process of
addressing the
existing fire
hazards and
downed trees will
continue over the
next few years,
and both NPS
and USFS will
coordinate on
these efforts.
Surprises, Discoveries, and Many
Challenges
Research: Attributes of
windthrown trees
Methods
 Before data:


fire effects plots
After data:







100-m transects
(n=13)
N=154 trees
diameter (DBH)
species
fall angle
uprooted vs. snapped
beetle presence
10
9


Map of DEPO and
vicinity showing 13
transect locations
13
Also shown is the
Rainbow Fire
perimeter (south of
thick black
boundary line) and
fire severity
12
11
Species composition was
representative of pre-blowdown forest
Mean fall angle was strongly SSW at 195°
histogram of fall angle (roots to tip)
9% of windthrown trees had new beetle
activity
% of trees with new
beetle activity
Lodgepole Pine
3.9
Red Fir
2.6
White Fir
2.6
Jeffrey Pine
0
Western White Pine 0
GRAND TOTAL
9.1
86% of trees were uprooted
Research & monitoring

Aerial photos to quantify extent of windthrow

Monitor dead and down trees for drying to predict fire
hazard

Fire severity & probability modeling

Beetle dynamics

Wildlife effects and vulnerability to weeds

Changing forest mosaic, diversity, and regeneration postblowdown
Wildlife impacts?
Some thrive disturbance
regimes…
Black backed woodpecker
Thrives in areas where
trees are burned or blown
down.
During our Inventory and
monitoring point counts
Two were observed!
Other wildlife impacts
currently unknown??
EXPERIENCE
YOUR
AMERICA
Opportunity to Use the Blowdown
to Study Forest Regeneration and
Diversity
Epic Event, Epic Efforts, Epic
Learning Opportunity
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Devils Postpile National Monument Park
Devils Windstorm:
Super Storm
Response
Research
Rebirth of Forest Mosaic
oE X P E R I E N C E
Y O U R?
AMERICA