Description: | The Okmulgee Forest, particularly oak trees, have declined in health in the past two years
as a result of a combination of drought stress leading to fungus infestation. About one
third of the oak trees in the vicinity of and upwind of the Okmulgee tower have died and
another one third were in significant decline at the time of inspection of the tower on
October 11, 2012. There was evidence of decline having begun at the time of tower
inspection in October 2010. This condition may be reflected in changes to net radiation and soil
measurements in comparison to years previous to Autumn 2010.
SEBS upwelling solar radiation (reduced), net radiation (larger), and soil measurements
(higher soil temperature and soil surface surface heat flux, and reduced soil moisture) are
all affected by the decline in forest canopy. |