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A model of direct and diffuse solar radiation on slopes of varying angle and aspect suggests that radiation differences within hilly terrain are maximized in the beginning of the dry season in the monsoon tropics. The differences between north and south facing slopes are greater than those found during the summer in the temperate zone. Within a study area near Mt. Bundey, Northern Territory, floristic and structural vegetational variability is closely related to June radiation as estimated by the model. However, the distribution patterns of monsoon thicket and eucalypt forest relate more to relative fire protection than to the effects of incident radiation on temporal patterns of moisture availability. Within both major formations, site rockiness is an important influence on vegetation floristics and structure, both for fire protection and through its influence on moisture availability.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Aspect - Eucalyptus - Fire - Forest - Monsoon - Northern Territory - Radiation - Rockiness
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Ecology
Research Field:	Ecology not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Environmental Management
Objective Group:	Other environmental management
Objective Field:	Other environmental management not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Kirkpatrick, JB (Professor James Kirkpatrick)
UTAS Author:	Nunez, M (Dr Manuel Nunez)
UTAS Author:	Bowman, DMJS (Professor David Bowman)
ID Code:	69101
Year Published:	1988
Web of Science® Times Cited:	21
Deposited By:	Plant Science
Deposited On:	2011-04-19
Last Modified:	2011-06-22
Downloads:	0