A 3D perspective on the effects of topography and wind on forest height and dynamics

Strong winds can lead to significant destructions of forest, with most research into wind damage occurring temperate plantations, because of their social and economic value. Much less is known about the impact of wind on tropic rainforests. Recently discovering the tallest tree ever found in the tropics in Sabah (a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, the question arises about the mechanical limits of height in tropical forests and the reason why Sabah’s lowland forests grow so much taller than those of Amazonia and Africa.

The projecy aims to develop an answer posed by the discovery, studying wind flow and tree responses in 40 square kilometers of old growth hill forest situated in Sabah, where NERC’s airborne research facility has already mapped ground elevation, canopy height and foliar nutrient concentrations by laser scanning (ALS) and imagining spectroscopy. The tallest forests in the tropics juxtapose with stunted heath forestst in these hills, making the landscapte ideal for evaluating the role of wind in determining forest height and dynamics. Moreover, the project compares wind flows in the tall forests of Borneo with those in shorter forests in South America (French Guiana) and hurricane-affected areas like the Caribbean (Puerto Rico). The relationship between canopy height and carbon density will also be analyzed to understand carbon dynamics in the context of climate change.