Edge influence of low-impact seismic lines for oil exploration on upland forest vegetation in northern Alberta (Canada)

Dabros, Anna; Hammond, H.E. James; Pinzón, Jaime; Pinno, Bradley D.; Langor, David W.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2017.06.030

Cited by 53 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Smaller openings might be the outcome of individual limb fall or the death of single trees [8]. In all cases, open areas can experience markedly different biotic and abiotic conditions, including a locally increased supply of photosynthetically active radiation (e.g., sunflecks) [9,10]. If left undisturbed, these openings constitute ecologically important patches of pronounced tree recruitment and plant growth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of LiDAR and Digital Aerial Photogrammetry for Characterizing Canopy Openings in the Boreal Forest of Northern Alberta

et al. 2019

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Forest canopy openings are a key element of forest structure, influencing a host of ecological dynamics. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is the de-facto standard for measuring three-dimensional forest structure, but digital aerial photogrammetry (DAP) has emerged as a viable and economical alternative. We compared the performance of LiDAR and DAP data for characterizing canopy openings and no-openings across a 1-km2 expanse of boreal forest in northern Alberta, Canada. Structural openings in canopy cover were delineated using three canopy height model (CHM) alternatives, from (i) LiDAR, (ii) DAP, and (iii) a LiDAR/DAP hybrid. From a point-based detectability perspective, the LiDAR CHM produced the best results (87% overall accuracy), followed by the hybrid and DAP models (47% and 46%, respectively). The hybrid and DAP CHMs experienced large errors of omission (9–53%), particularly with small openings up to 20m2, which are an important element of boreal forest structure. By missing these, DAP and hybrid datasets substantially under-reported the total area of openings across our site (152,470 m2 and 159,848 m2, respectively) compared to LiDAR (245,920 m2). Our results illustrate DAP’s sensitivity to occlusions, mismatched tie points, and other optical challenges inherent to using structure-from-motion workflows in complex forest scenes. These under-documented constraints currently limit the technology’s capacity to fully characterize canopy structure. For now, we recommend that operational use of DAP in forests be limited to mapping large canopy openings, and area-based attributes that are well-documented in the literature.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of LiDAR and Digital Aerial Photogrammetry for Characterizing Canopy Openings in the Boreal Forest of Northern Alberta

et al. 2019

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“…Boreal forests are no exception to the worldwide trend of forest fragmentation, being subject to anthropogenic disturbances associated with resource extraction activities [8]. Although boreal forests are depauperate in biodiversity compared to other forest biomes [7], these forests represent one third of the worldwide forest cover and carbon stocks [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They also sustain a number of charismatic and/or threatened species, such as woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) and grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), while providing natural resources of primary interest to human societies [9]. Natural resource extraction of Canada's boreal forest includes forestry and energy extraction, with Alberta's forests being one of the most developed in Canada [8]. One major source of local forest fragmentation is the extraction of bitumen from the oil sands.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One major source of local forest fragmentation is the extraction of bitumen from the oil sands. With the majority of bitumen being deeper than 70 m, its extraction in these areas is from the use of underground wells [8]. Here most of the forests remain, but within that forest there are numerous smaller disturbances created by well pads, roads, pipelines, and exploratory seismic lines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of these disturbances, seismic lines are the most pervasive in terms of extent and amount of forest edge. These narrow (<10-m wide) linear forest clearings are created to map the extent and depth of oil reserves via seismic assessments [8,10,11]. Generally, there are two kinds of seismic lines: traditional (2D) and "low-impact" (3D).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Narrow Linear Disturbances on Light and Wind Patterns in Fragmented Boreal Forests in Northeastern Alberta

Stern

Riva

Nielsen

2018

Forests

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Forest fragmentation threatens forest biodiversity and ecosystem function. One of the concerns relates to increases in edge effects, which among other things affects the forest microclimate that influences the distribution and behavior of species. In Alberta, Canada, boreal anthropogenic disturbances from in situ oil exploration are increasing forest fragmentation, especially in the form of exploratory well pads and seismic lines (i.e., linear forest clearings created during the exploration phase of oil extraction). Dissection of these forests by seismic lines has the potential to change local patterns in wind and light, and thus may alter forest communities. Although alterations of these abiotic conditions are likely, the magnitude of these changes is unknown, particularly the effects of changes in the width and orientation of linear disturbances. Here we investigated changes in light and wind on seismic lines compared to that of adjacent undisturbed forests and nearby cleared openings. Specifically, we examined how seismic line characteristics (i.e., line direction, line width, and adjacent canopy height) altered local responses in these abiotic conditions. Generalized Linear Mixed Effect models predicted a 2-fold increase in average light intensity and maximum wind speeds, and a 4-fold increase in average wind speeds on seismic lines compared to adjacent forests. These changes did not approach the conditions in large openings, which compared to forests had a 3-fold increase in average light intensity, a 16-fold increase in average wind speeds, and a 4-fold increase in maximum wind speeds. Line width and orientation interacted with adjacent forest height altering the abiotic environment with wider lines having a 3-fold increase on maximum wind speed. We conclude that even localized, narrow (<10-m wide) forest disturbances associated with oil sands exploration alter forest microclimatic conditions. Recent changes in practices that reduce line width as well as promoting tree regeneration, will minimize the environmental effects of these anthropogenic disturbances.

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UAV Remote Sensing Can Reveal the Effects of Low‐Impact Seismic Lines on Surface Morphology, Hydrology, and Methane (CH₄) Release in a Boreal Treed Bog

et al. 2018

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Peatlands are globally significant stores of soil carbon, where local methane (CH4) emissions are strongly linked to water table position and microtopography. Historically, these factors have been difficult to measure in the field, constraining our capacity to observe local patterns of variability. In this paper, we show how remote sensing surveys conducted from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms can be used to map microtopography and depth to water over large areas with good accuracy, paving the way for spatially explicit estimates of CH4 emissions. This approach enabled us to observe—for the first time—the effects of low‐impact seismic lines (LIS; petroleum exploration corridors) on surface morphology and CH4 emissions in a treed‐bog ecosystem in northern Alberta, Canada. Through compaction, LIS lines were found to flatten the observed range in microtopographic elevation by 46 cm and decrease mean depth to water by 15.4 cm, compared to surrounding undisturbed conditions. These alterations are projected to increase CH4 emissions by 20–120% relative to undisturbed areas in our study area, which translates to a total rise of 0.011–0.027 kg CH4 day−1 per linear kilometer of LIS (~2 m wide). The ~16 km of LIS present at our 61 ha study site were predicted to boost CH4 emissions by 20–70 kg between May and September 2016.

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Edge influence of low-impact seismic lines for oil exploration on upland forest vegetation in northern Alberta (Canada)

Cited by 53 publications

References 46 publications

Comparison of LiDAR and Digital Aerial Photogrammetry for Characterizing Canopy Openings in the Boreal Forest of Northern Alberta

Comparison of LiDAR and Digital Aerial Photogrammetry for Characterizing Canopy Openings in the Boreal Forest of Northern Alberta

Effects of Narrow Linear Disturbances on Light and Wind Patterns in Fragmented Boreal Forests in Northeastern Alberta

UAV Remote Sensing Can Reveal the Effects of Low‐Impact Seismic Lines on Surface Morphology, Hydrology, and Methane (CH₄) Release in a Boreal Treed Bog

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Edge influence of low-impact seismic lines for oil exploration on upland forest vegetation in northern Alberta (Canada)

Cited by 53 publications

References 46 publications

Comparison of LiDAR and Digital Aerial Photogrammetry for Characterizing Canopy Openings in the Boreal Forest of Northern Alberta

Comparison of LiDAR and Digital Aerial Photogrammetry for Characterizing Canopy Openings in the Boreal Forest of Northern Alberta

Effects of Narrow Linear Disturbances on Light and Wind Patterns in Fragmented Boreal Forests in Northeastern Alberta

UAV Remote Sensing Can Reveal the Effects of Low‐Impact Seismic Lines on Surface Morphology, Hydrology, and Methane (CH4) Release in a Boreal Treed Bog

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Product

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UAV Remote Sensing Can Reveal the Effects of Low‐Impact Seismic Lines on Surface Morphology, Hydrology, and Methane (CH₄) Release in a Boreal Treed Bog