| We have been conducting studies on a snowbreak wood, along National Route 40 in Northern Hokkaido. The wood consists mainly of Pinaceae species and is approximately 30 m wide. Some trees were found to have withered lower branches. In general, the mass flux of blowing snow tends to increase as height from the snow surface decreases. Therefore, we address the effect of branch withering and clarify its influence on wind and blowing-snow prevention. In order to clarify the influence, we analyzed the optical porosity of the wood at several heights and measured wind speeds and mass flux of blowing snow windward and leeward of the wood. We found that the relationship between (1) the optical porosity of the wood and the wind speed, and, (2) the mass flux resulted in power functions. We believe that these functions are useful for the practical maintenance of snowbreak woods. |
