Devils Windstorm: Devils Windstorm:

Super StormSuper StormResponseResponseResearch Research Rebirth of Forest MosaicRebirth of Forest Mosaic

oEoE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R? A M E R I C AX P E R I E N C E Y O U R? A M E R I C A

National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceU.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Department of the Interior

Devils Devils PostpilePostpile National Monument Park National Monument Park

National Weather Service, National Weather Service, RhetRhet MilneMilneMeterologistMeterologist/Extreme Weather Events/Extreme Weather Events

How Strong is 150 mph Sustained Winds?How Strong is 150 mph Sustained Winds?

EF3 Tornado!

How Strong is 150 mph Sustained How Strong is 150 mph Sustained WindsWinds

Category 4 Hurricane!

Duration of East Wind EventsDuration of East Wind EventsWind Event Hours Gusts > 100 mph Hours Gusts > 120 mph

Devils Windstorm 15 14November 21st 12 4

December 11th 6 2

November 29th 2 0

October 28th 8 4

Comparing Top 5 East Wind Comparing Top 5 East Wind Events the Past 12 YearsEvents the Past 12 Years

Event Wind & Gusts 700 mb T & T Gradient

MSLP Gradient

Devils Windstorm 150 & 180 mph -13C 14C 35 mbOctober 28th 92 & 120 mph -15C 10C 21 mbNovember 29th 87 & 110 mph -16C 11C 20 mbDecember 11th 102 & 127 mph -14C 16C 20 mbNovember 21st 70 & 120 mph -12C 13C 23 mb

in Satellite or Model data

Why a Super storm? Why a Super storm?

••Exceptionally strong pressure gradients drove the NE Exceptionally strong pressure gradients drove the NE WindsJetWindsJet

••Stream Touchdown very unlikely and not observed in Satellite or Stream Touchdown very unlikely and not observed in Satellite or Model dataModel data

Topography and winds were perfectly aligned for Topography and winds were perfectly aligned for downslopedownslope windstorm in NE/SW oriented steep drainagewindstorm in NE/SW oriented steep drainage

••Stability, pressure gradients, topography favored a Stability, pressure gradients, topography favored a ““Hydraulic JumpHydraulic Jump”” downslopedownslope windstorm accelerating and intensifying the speeds. windstorm accelerating and intensifying the speeds.

••High speeds and Long Duration Record BreakingHigh speeds and Long Duration Record Breaking

Most Severe impacts: UMFSJ:Most Severe impacts: UMFSJ: Topography and winds were perfectly aligned for Topography and winds were perfectly aligned for downslopedownslope windstorm in windstorm in NE/SW oriented steep drainageNE/SW oriented steep drainage Stability, pressure gradients, topography favored a Stability, pressure gradients, topography favored a ““Hydraulic JumpHydraulic Jump”” downslopedownslope windstormwindstorm

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Backcountry travelers discover the damageBackcountry travelers discover the damage

Devils Devils PostpilePostpile BlowdownBlowdown Results Results and Recovery and Recovery

Reds Meadow Valley RoadReds Meadow Valley Road

Trail damageTrail damage

Inyo National ForestInyo National Forest

Impassable trail segments reported by INF in Feb 2012

20102012

North

20102012

North

Dual PurposeDual Purpose

Clear and Open Clear and Open Trails/FacilitiesTrails/Facilities

Reduce Heightened Reduce Heightened Fire Hazards Fire Hazards

Multiple ChallengesMultiple Challenges

::

Magnitude of Magnitude of WorkWork

What to do with What to do with Downed Wood Downed Wood

Hazardous Hazardous Conditions forConditions for

Crews and Visitors Crews and Visitors

Magnitude of Work needs Magnitude of Work needs Magnitude of Partners 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 days26 Tons of Downed Wood =7 days

RemoveFlashy FuelsFrom Visitor Use/Ranger Area

What to do with Downed Wood: What to do with Downed Wood: Green Loads!Green Loads!

Mammoth Disposal brings over 50,000 pounds to Benton Landfill to Chip For Dust Abatement

Contribute to problemContribute to problem--solving for solving for imported firewood pests imported firewood pests Another Silver Lining:

pests

Provide pest-free local firewood to NPS Campers (20 cords thus far)

Continued Efforts for Reducing Continued Efforts for Reducing Fire Hazards Fire Hazards

The process of The process of addressing the addressing the existing fire existing fire hazards and hazards and downed trees will downed trees will continue over the continue over the next few years, next few years, and both NPS and both NPS and USFS will and USFS will coordinate on coordinate on these efforts. these efforts.

Surprises, Discoveries, and Many Surprises, Discoveries, and Many ChallengesChallenges

Research: Attributes of Research: Attributes of windthrownwindthrown treestrees

MethodsMethods

Before data:Before data:

fire effects plotsfire effects plots

After data:After data:

100100--m transects m transects (n=13)(n=13)

N=154 treesN=154 trees

diameter (DBH)diameter (DBH)

speciesspecies

fall anglefall angle

uprooted vs. snappeduprooted vs. snapped

beetle beetle presencepresence

Map of DEPO and Map of DEPO and vicinity showing 13 vicinity showing 13 transect locationstransect locations

Also shown is the Also shown is the Rainbow Fire Rainbow Fire perimeter (south of perimeter (south of thick black thick black boundary line) and boundary line) and fire severityfire severity

910

12

11

13

Species composition was Species composition was representative of prerepresentative of pre--blowdownblowdown forestforest

Mean fall angle was strongly SSW at 195Mean fall angle was strongly SSW at 195°°

histogram of fall angle (roots to tip)

9% of 9% of windthrownwindthrown trees had new beetle trees had new beetle activityactivity

% 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 uprooted86% of trees were uprooted

Research & monitoringResearch & monitoring

Aerial photos to quantify extent of Aerial photos to quantify extent of windthrowwindthrow

Monitor dead and down trees for drying to predict fire Monitor dead and down trees for drying to predict fire hazardhazard

Fire severity & probability modelingFire severity & probability modeling

Beetle dynamicsBeetle dynamics

Wildlife effects and vulnerability to weedsWildlife effects and vulnerability to weeds

Changing forest mosaic, diversity, and regeneration postChanging forest mosaic, diversity, and regeneration post-- blowdownblowdown

Wildlife impacts?Wildlife impacts?

Some thrive disturbance Some thrive disturbance regimesregimes……Black backed woodpeckerBlack backed woodpeckerThrives in areas where Thrives in areas where trees are burned or blown trees are burned or blown down. down.

During our Inventory and During our Inventory and monitoring point countsmonitoring point countsTwo were observed! Two were observed! Other wildlife impacts Other wildlife impacts currently unknown??currently unknown??

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C AE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Opportunity to Use the Opportunity to Use the BlowdownBlowdown to Study Forest Regeneration and to Study Forest Regeneration and DiversityDiversity

Epic Event, Epic Efforts, Epic Epic Event, Epic Efforts, Epic Learning Opportunity Learning Opportunity

Devils Windstorm: Devils Windstorm:

Super StormSuper Storm ResponseResponse Research Research Rebirth of Forest MosaicRebirth of Forest Mosaic

oEoE X P E R I E N C E Y O U R? A M E R I C AX P E R I E N C E Y O U R? A M E R I C A

National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceU.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Department of the Interior

Devils Devils PostpilePostpile National Monument Park National Monument Park