Site Assessment

Question 1

disruptions to a terrestrial site, community, or ecosystem that alters the physical environment.

Answer 1

Land disturbances

Question 2

a topographic alteration to the surface of the ground.

Answer 2

Grade changes

Question 3

actions, events, or changes that have taken place on a site.

Answer 3

Land-use history

Question 4

study of the properties, distribution, and effects of water on the Earth’s surface, underground, and in the atmosphere.

Answer 4

Hydrology

Question 5

the force on a tree or structure resulting from the impact of wind.

Answer 5

Wind load

Question 6

the speed of wind.

Answer 6

Wind velocity

Question 7

wind resistance.

Answer 7

Drag

Question 8

any form of water that falls to the Earth’s surface, such as rain, snow, or sleet.

Answer 8

Precipitation

Question 9

uprooting and overthrowing of a tree caused by wind.

Answer 9

Windthrow

Question 10

exposure to the forces of wind.

Answer 10

Wind exposure

Question 11

the tree or trees in a stand that are typically larger in height (taller), diameter, and crown spread than all the adjacent trees.

Answer 11

Dominant (trees in a stand)

Question 12

a group of trees in a wooded setting.

Answer 12

Forest stands

Question 13

more than one tree sharing dominance in a stand of trees.

Answer 13

Codominant (trees in a stand)

Question 14

understory trees in a stand or forest with growth somewhat restricted by larger nearby trees.

Answer 14

Subdominant (trees in a stand)

Question 15

understory trees in a stand or forest with growth severely restricted by competing nearby trees.

Answer 15

Suppressed (tree in a stand)

Question 16

a tree on the edge of a stand, growing under conditions of light and exposure different from those prevailing within the stand.

Answer 16

Edge tree

Question 17

a tree within a stand of trees, protected from wind exposure.

Answer 17

Interior tree

Question 18

the land and water features of an area, including changes in elevation.

Answer 18

Topography

Question 19

the vertical extent of soil present below ground.

Answer 19

Soil depth

Question 20

compression of the soil, often as a result of vehicle or heavy-equipment traffic, that breaks down soil aggregates and reduces soil volume and total pore space, especially macropore space.

Answer 20

Soil compaction

Question 21

Four considerations in site disturbance and changes

Answer 21

Altered wind patterns
Altered levels of sun exposure
Changed soil moisture
Damaged root systems

Question 22

True/False

Most tree failures occur during normal weather.

Answer 22

False

Question 23

True/False

A wind rose graph can be used to model regional or local wind patterns.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

True/False

Trees with less foliage have more drag due to the wind’s direct contact with the major scaffold branches.

Answer 24

False

Question 25

True/False

Shallow root systems are associated with saturated soils or overirrigated landscapes.

Answer 25

True

Question 26

True/False

In general, trees with a deep root system are more prone to failure than those with a shallow root system.

Answer 26

False

Question 27

True/False

A soil probe can be used to determine soil depth and penetrability.

Answer 27

True

Question 28

True/False
Usually, soils at the top of a slope will be well-drained, and those at the bottom of the slope will be wetter, possibly waterlogged.

Answer 28

True

Question 29

True/False
The amount of soil volume needed to sustain and support a tree depends on tree species, size, soil characteristics, and climate.

Answer 29

True

Question 30

Although __________ trees may be well adapted to the prevailing winds as a result of continuous exposure, __________ trees that have been abruptly exposed may have a higher likelihood of failure.

Answer 30

edge

interior

Question 31

Heavy equipment can cause soil __________, often crushing tree roots or negatively impacting soil structure.

Answer 31

compaction

Question 32

As a general rule, if one or more large __________ have been severed within a distance equal to three times the trunk diameter, an assessor should look for new root growth or root decay to assess whether the tree has sufficient support.

Answer 32

structural roots

Question 33

Trees are more susceptible to __________ when the soil is saturated, particularly if the tree is shallow-rooted or the soil is shallow.

Answer 33

windthrow

Question 34

All other factors being equal, a lone tree may be more prone to failure than a tree in a forest stand because

A) a lone tree would have a more restricted root system
B) a forest stand will provide some protection from wind exposure
C) lone trees tend not to have many branches for damping forces
D) all of the above

Answer 34

B) a forest stand will provide some protection from wind exposure

Question 35

Wind speeds can be variable depending on

A) height above the ground
B) structures that create a tunnel effect
C) the effects of topography in the area
D) all of the above

Answer 35

D) all of the above

Question 36

Trees located at the bottom of a steep slope are more likely to

A) experience thinner soils than trees located at the top of the slope
B) fail due to high winds than trees located at the top of the slope
C) fail uphill if basal decay is the cause of failure than trees located at the top of the slope
D) become unstable due to wetter soil than trees located at the top of the slope

Answer 36

D) become unstable due to wetter soil than trees located at the top of the slope