April 2010 Article: “Modeling Stream Shade: Riparian Buffer Height and Density as Important as Buffer Width,” by David R. DeWalle.
This article is a nice little exercise in applying basic physics and geometry to explore buffer zone shading characteristics of small streams. Using a path-length form of Beer’s law to represent the transmission of direct beam solar radiation through vegetation, the author calculated impacts of varying buffer zone height, width, and radiation extinction coefficients (surrogate for buffer density) on shading for E-W and N-S stream azimuths.
DeWalle’s model suggests that at least 80% shade on small streams up to 6-m wide can be achieved in mid-latitudes with relatively narrow 12-m wide buffers, regardless of stream azimuth, as long as buffers are tall and dense. Although wider buffers may have other benefits, he suggests greater emphasis should be placed on tall, dense buffers to maximize stream shading.
[Please note: I have quoted and paraphrased freely from the article, but the interpretation is my own!]
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Tags: riparian ecology