The Heat Balance of Forests and its Role in the Formation of the Microclimate of Wooded and Treeless Landscapes of the Moscow Region

The author describes the results of a field study designed to measure the relative effect of differences in the heat balance of wooded and treeless areas on the microclimate of these two vegetation types. Microclimatic differences are found to reflect the screening effect of tree vegetation with regard to solar radiation. The methodology of measurements is described and the additional factor of dissected relief is taken into consideration.