El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico Canopy Change from Afar (2017-2018)

Animation that does of a low fly over of El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico. The entire animation is split screen showing the 2017 data on top and 2018 on bottom. Notice the dense lush forest canopy in 2017 and how it covers and shades much of the forest floor. However, in 2018, after Maria devastated the forest in late 2017, the tree canopy has been greatly thinned exposing much more of the forest floor. In September 2017, Hurricane Maria s forests had far-reaching effects, Morton said. Fallen trees that no longer stabilize soil on slopes with their roots as well as downed branches can contribute to landslides and debris flows, increased erosion, and poor water quality in streams and rivers where sediments build up. 2017 El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico. Notice the dense forest coverage before Hurricane Maria struck six months later. 2018 El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico. Notice the exposed forest floor after Hurricane Maria hit in late 2017.

Sample composite that shows a split screen of 2017 and 2018 lidar data over El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico. As the animation plays, one can see a distinct difference between the fullness of the 2017 forest canopy versus the much sparser 2018 canopy. This difference is most noticable around rivers and streams where the neighboring forest canopy was stripped away by Hurricane Maria exposing much more of the water banks. In September 2017, Hurricane Maria s forests had far-reaching effects, Morton said. Fallen trees that no longer stabilize soil on slopes with their roots as well as downed branches can contribute to landslides and debris flows, increased erosion, and poor water quality in streams and rivers where sediments build up. 2017 Lidar traverse of El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico six months before Hurricane Maria hit. Notice the full lush tree canopy that allows very little ground exposure. 2018 Lidar traverse of El Yunque National Forest, Puerto Rico. Notice the jagged sparser nature of the tree canopy after Hurricane Maria hit in late 2017. Much more ground has also been exposed.