Quantitative Analysis of Factors Influencing Damage to Old-Growth Hemiboreal Stands as a Result of a Catastrophic Windthrow, Based on Remote Sensing and Merged Data

Abstract

The consequences of a catastrophic windthrow in a old-growth hemiboreal stands of the Kologrivsky Forest Reserve were investigated. The degree of damage to tree stands was assessed by interpretation of the Sentinel-2 satellite images. Data from the GBIF portal, SRTM global terrain height models, and tree stand heights were used for the quantitative analysis of factors affecting the presence of wind damage. It was found that tree stands on an area of 277.9 hectares (40.5% of the entire massif) were damaged by windthrow. The results of the analysis of height models and regression models showed that spruce stands are more vulnerable to wind damage, as well as stands of greater height or those growing at higher elevation on the ground.