Tail-Shaped Vegetation Patch as an Indicator to Estimate the Winter Prevailing Wind in the Alpine Pare Ground

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  • 高山風衝砂礫地にみられる冬季卓越風指標としての“しっぽ状”植生
  • コウザン フショウ サレキチ ニ ミラレル トウキ タクエツフウ シヒョウ

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In the alpine zone, the prevailing wind in winter is a primary factor which determines the distribution and depth of snow accumulation affecting ground temperature. Consequently, the prevailing wind in winter indirectly controls the thermal condition of ground, and has a significant influence on landform and vegetation in the alpine zone.<br>At the north of Takanegahara located on the alpine zone of the central Daisetsuzan Mountains, central Hokkaido, wind speed and direction were observed in winter of 1985. At the south, wind direction and speed can be estimated through some wind-shaped trees such as Picea glehnii and Abies sachalinensis. From these results, it is inferred that the wind of monthly average speed of more than 4m/s and main derection of WNW prevail over Takanegahara in winter. This wind condition in winter produces the appearance of windward bare ground along the top of Takanegahara inclining gently toward the west, and obstructs the invasion of Pinus pumila community, characterizing the apline zone of Japan, there. Tail-shaped vegetation patches, however, occur only at the leeward side of rocks and bunches of Carex sp., scattering in the windward bare ground of Takanegahara, against the prevailing westerly wind in winter. The direction of tail-shaped vegetation patches conforms to that of the winter prevailing wind estimated from the observed data and the wind-shaped trees. It is obvious that tail-shaped vegetation patch is protected by tail-shaped snow cover formed at the leeward side of rocks and bunches of Carex sp. from an attack of the strong prevailing westerly wind in winter. Accordingly, tail-shaped vegetation patch will be one of very useful indicators for estimating the direction of winter prevailing wind in the alpine zone.

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