Ice Storm Damage to a Southern Wisconsin Mesic Forest

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Abstract
In 1976, an extensive ice storm struck southern Wisconsin, resulting in substantial damage to the upland forest at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Cedar-Sauk Field Station. Strong northeasterly winds following the storm (80.6 km/h) exacerbated the damage. A forest field sampling technique was modified to measure the volume of macro-litter resulting from the ice storm. The canopy was photographed using both wide-angle and fish-eye lenses to determine the effect upon the overstory. Macro-litter volume was determined to be 19.35 m3/ha, accounting for a loss of approximately 35% of the canopy. Damage was uneven and was influenced by topographic and climatic factors; inclination and aspect of slope, as well as wind were of particular importance. Species susceptibility to glaze varied considerably. Susceptibility was quantified by preparing a ratio of the observed macro-litter volume with the expected volume based upon the relative dominance of each species in the stand. Ratio products ranged from 1.55 for Ulmus rubra, the most susceptible species, to 0.17 for Ostrya virginiana. Factors responsible for species susceptibility include growth form, mechanical properties of wood, tree age and degree of decay, and position in the canopy.

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