Title of the project: Microclimate of windthrows in High Tatras

Project Identification No: APVV-030205

Period of carrying out project: 04/01/2006 – 03/31/2009

Project objectives: The identification and quantification of characteristic features of the microclimate of windthrows which came into being in the region of High Tatras. (Slovak Republic) on 19^th November 2004 when about 12000 ha of forest stands was totally destroyed during a windstorm with devastating effects. The evaluation of the impact of devastated forests on the local climate in close neighbourhood of the windthrows and evaluation of changes in the atmospheric environment of inhabitans in the High Tatras region. The monitoring of the main microclimatic characteristics within the windthrow and besides it. The monitoring of the soil water content in the surface soil layers inside the windthrow. Calculation of heat and water wapour fluxes over the windthrow and dtermination of its energy balance. A design and experimental verification of the mathematical model simulating the microclimate of windthrows and predicting its further development taking into account expected climate change.

Co-operating organizations: Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute

                                               Institute of Hydrology of the SAS