Here is Charlie Cogbill's response to my call for an article about the ice storm. I have indicated that I would share it with the group for comments and feedback. LA ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 13 Jan 1998 16:17:26 -0500 (EST) From: Charlie Cogbill <[log in to unmask]> To: Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: ice storm of Jan 1998 Lesley-Ann, It might be a little too early for an article on the ice storm, but the ephemeral data should be collected and archived as soon as possible. For example, the radar and synoptic charts are already off the interne and the anecdotes are fading into shivering memories. As an ecologist, I would love to get anecdotal information of the extent, severity and preliminary assessment of damage to vegetation (not just the utility poles downed as touted around in the press). I think someone should collate information on parameters such as amount of ice (diameter of deposit on a standard size branch etc.), actual elevation of freezing layer and timing of ice shedding/ tree cracking (I call it mode of mortality- height and nature of snap). Even a branch/trunk count which needs to be cleared on a known length of road/powerline at a known location is a valuable datum. I could easily suggest a standard set of observations, but the methodology isn't as important as good documendation and widespread coverage. The questions which I tend toward are the nature of the ice storm disturbance regime and the interaction with vegetation. In particular how do meteorology, geography, topography and vegetation affect tree damage and what is the long-term response of the plant communities to this disturbance. Some collaboration between the meteorolocists and the ecologists might be mutually beneficial. Please pass this idea around to your contacts.. Also I am trying to pull the mountain temperature presentation into a readable abstract for inclusion in the Proceedings of the Vermont wea/clim meeting. I'll send it offwithin the week Best, Charlie Charles V. Cogbill RR2 Box 160 Plainfield, VT 05667 (802) 454-8619 [log in to unmask]