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A Total Forest Management Plan and Wildland Management Decision Support System
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Evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration is one of the most synthetic, critical variables of the ecosystem for understanding site quality, site suitability for some species, regeneration phenomena, net photosynthesis, mineral cycling, and water balance. It is fundamental to ground water recharge phenomena as well as to moisture stress of trees (and probably other plants) leading to their over-heating and death ... and thus evident insect attacks (such as that of the southern pine bark beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis). Evapotranspiration is an integrative ecosystem process that shapes the amount and timing of runoff and thus is part of the change in the landscape surface and relief. With deforestation or vegetation removal, evapotranspiration is reduced resulting in increased erosion rates and nutrient loading of stream waters.

See Klopfer's MS thesis:

Klopfer, S. D. 1998. Insolation, precipitation, and moisture maps for a Virginia geographic information system. M.S. Thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. 184 pp. electronic thesis access: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/public/etd-7197-113632/etd-title.html

Summer probable evapotranspiration rate GIS maps for the area and its region are suggested.

Heinrich (1991) reported that evaporation resulted in high sugar concentrations on bark (over 55%) and that red squirrels eat the solids. Squirrels create the maple holes or "sap leaks."

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References Heinrich, B. 1991. Nutcracker sweets. Natural history Feb. p. 4,6,8.

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Last revision July 1, 2004.