Quote:
Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker
Yes, that's correct. We do have some trees in valleys and other sheltered locations that can be quite tall (well over a 5-6 floor building), but such areas are uncommon, and the same species would grow much taller than even that elsewhere.
Along the coast, exposed to the ocean (salt/wind), they take centuries to reach even my height. That happens even in warmer climates (they're called dibi dibi trees in the Caribbean, for example), but it's especially brutal here in a colder climate. I'm taller than a lot of trees on coastal hiking trails, and even in areas where I'm not, they're rarely much more than 2-3x me.
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Your message really highlights that the main limiting factor in Newfoundland isn't an absolute lack of nutrients or the extreme cold in general, but rather the mechanical stress and dehydration caused by the wind. The fact that valleys offer protection from the wind and salt allows trees there to reach their genetic potential, even if it takes them longer than elsewhere.
Your observation that coastal trees (those exposed to salt/wind) take 'centuries to reach my height' is crucial because it clarifies:
Shortened Growing Season: Our initial analysis pointed out that the growing season in St. John's is very short. In a cold climate, trees have very little time to add biomass (wood) each year.
Constant Damage: When you add the constant damage from erosion and dehydration caused by the wind and salt (Windburn), the trees spend most of their energy repairing and surviving, instead of growing upwards.
The Consequence: This leads to an overall extremely slow growth rate, explaining why trees remain stunted for decades or even centuries.
The fact that you are taller than many trees on the coastal hiking trails ('rarely double or triple my height') perfectly describes two phenomena:
Krummholz: This is a German term used to describe the stunted, deformed trees found in extreme alpine or coastal zones where growth is limited by wind and frost. The prostrate, twisted shape is a survival strategy.
The Caribbean Parallel: Your reference to the 'dibi dibi trees' (likely a form of mangroves or coastal shrubs) in the Caribbean is an excellent comparison. In those climates, salt and wind are the limiters, even though water and heat are abundant. In Newfoundland, those same stressors (wind and salt) are combined with the cold limitation, making the effect 'particularly brutal' on growth.
All very interesting stuff, and it clearly shows just how numerous and complex the factors are that determine tree growth, density, and overall count!
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This is an incredibly long and severe cold wave. Now more than a week straight of 4-5 degrees below normal.
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