Abstract
Based on model calculations, the moisture of soil for sites with and without a cover of trees under the current and rising temperature was studied assuming a 5 °C increase in annual mean temperature over a period of 100 years. The calculation for southern Finland (61°N) showed that the soil moisture under elevated temperature could be reduced compared to that under current temperature conditions. This was also true for northern Finland (66°N), but there the reduction in soil moisture was less substantial. In particular, when trees were present, the soil moisture during the growing season was reduced due to enhanced evapotranspiration. In the presence of trees, the moisture content of the surface soil was only half that under the current temperature. In these conditions, reduced accumulation of snow and a thin humus layer allowed the soil to freeze to deep layers, thereby causing further reduction in soil moisture due to poor transfer of water deeper in the soil.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brooks, R. H. and Corey, A. T.: 1964, ‘Hydraulic Properties of Porous Media’, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, Hydrology Paper No. 3, pp. 1–27.
Henttonen, H., Kanninen, M., Nygren, M., and Ojansuu, R.: 1986, ‘The Maturation of Scots Pine Seeds in Relation to Temperature Climate in Northern Finland’, Scand. J. Forest Res. 1, 234–249.
Jansson, P.-E.: 1991, ‘Simulation Model for Soil Water and Temperature Conditions, Description of the Soil Model’, Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet, Uppsala, Rapport 165, pp. 1–72.
Kellomäki, S.: 1994, ‘Computations on the Influence of Changing Climate on Soil Moisture and Productivity of Scots Pine Stands in Southern and Northern Finland’, Climatic Change 29, 35–51.
Kellomäki, S., Väisänen, H., and Strandman, H.: 1993, ‘FinnFor: A Model for Calculating the Response of Boreal Forest Ecosystem to Climatic Change’, University of Joensuu. Faculty of Forestry, Research Notes 6, 1–121.
Kersten, M. S.: 1949, ‘Thermal Properties of Soils’, Institute of Technology, Engineering Experimental Station, Bull. No. 28, pp. 1–26.
McMahon, T.: 1973, ‘Size and Shape in Biology, Elastic, Criteria Impose Limits on Biological Proportions, and Consequently the Metabolic Rates’, Science 179, 1201–1204.
McMurtrie, R. E., Rook, D. A., and Kelliher, F. M.: 1990, ‘Modelling the Yield of Pinus Radiata on a Site Limited by Water and Nitrogen’, Forest Ecology and Management 30, 381–418.
Mikola, P.: 1950, ‘Puiden Kasvun Vaihteluista Ja Niiden Merkityksestä Kasvututkimuksissa', Summary: On Variation in Tree Growth and Their Significance to Growth Studies’, Comm. Forest. Fenn. 38 (5), 1–131.
Mikola, P.: 1978, ‘Consequences of Climatic Fluctuation in Forestry’, Fennia 150, 39–43.
Mitchell, J. F. B., Manabe, S., Mlesho, V. and Tokioka, T.: 1990, ‘Equilibrium Climate Change - and Its Implications for Future’, in J. T. Houghton, G. T. Jenkins and J. J. Ephraums (eds.), Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, pp. 131–175.
Monteith, J. L.: 1973, Principles of Environmental Physics, Edward Arnold Publ., London, 241 pp.
Pastor, J. and Post, W. M.: 1988, ‘Response of Northern Forests to CO2-Induced Climate Change’, Nature 334, 55–58.
Persson, G.: 1995, ‘Water Balance of Willow Stands in Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Department of Soil Science’, Reports and Dissertations 20, 1–26.
Strandman, H., Väisänen, H., and Kellomäki, S.: 1993, ‘A Procedure for Generating Synthetic Weather Records in Conjunction of Climatic Scenario for Modelling Ecological Impacts of Changing Climate in Boreal Conditions’, Ecological Modelling 70, 195–220.
Väisänen, H., Strandman, H., and Kellomäki, S.: 1994, ‘A Model to Simulate the Effects of Changing Climate on the Functioning and Structure of Boreal Forest Ecosystem: An Approach Based on Object-Oriented Design’, Tree Physiology 14, 1081–1095.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kellomäki, S., Väisänen, H. Model computations on the effect of rising temperature on soil moisture and water availability in forest ecosystems dominated by scots pine in the boreal zone in Finland. Climatic Change 32, 423–445 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00140355
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00140355