Significant increase in natural disturbance impacts on European forests since 1950

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 29(5), P. 1359 - 1376

Published: Dec. 12, 2022

Abstract Over the last decades, natural disturbance is increasingly putting pressure on European forests. Shifts in regimes may compromise forest functioning and continuous provisioning of ecosystem services to society, including their climate change mitigation potential. Although forests are central many policies, we lack long‐term empirical data needed for thoroughly understanding dynamics, modeling them, developing adaptive management strategies. Here, present a unique database >170,000 records ground‐based observations from 1950 2019. Reported confirm significant increase 34 countries, causing an average 43.8 million m 3 disturbed timber volume per year over 70‐year study period. This value likely conservative estimate due under‐reporting, especially small‐scale disturbances. We used machine learning techniques assessing magnitude unreported disturbances, which estimated be between 8.6 18.3 /year. In 20 years, disturbances accounted 16% mean annual harvest Europe. Wind was most important agent period (46% total damage), followed by fire (24%) bark beetles (17%). Bark beetle doubled its share damage years. Forest can profoundly impact (e.g., mitigation), affect regional resource consequently disrupt planning objectives markets. conclude that adaptation changing must placed at core policy debate. Furthermore, coherent homogeneous monitoring system urgently Europe, better observe respond ongoing changes regimes.

Language: Английский

---

The enduring world forest carbon sink

Nature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 631(8021), P. 563 - 569

Published: July 17, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Atmospheric-moisture-induced polyacrylate hydrogels for hybrid passive cooling

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Oct. 23, 2023

Heat stress is being exacerbated by global warming, jeopardizing human and social sustainability. As a result, reliable energy-efficient cooling methods are highly sought-after. Here, we report polyacrylate film fabricated self-moisture-absorbing hygroscopic hydrogel for efficient hybrid passive cooling. Using one of the lowest-cost industrial materials (e.g., sodium polyacrylate), demonstrate radiative reducing solar heating with high reflectance (0.93) while maximizing thermal emission mid-infrared emittance (0.99). Importantly, manufacturing process utilizes only atmospheric moisture requires no additional chemicals or energy consumption, making it completely green process. Under sunlight illumination 800 W m-2, surface temperature was reduced 5 °C under partly cloudy sky observed at Buffalo, NY. Combined its feature, this can simultaneously introduce evaporative that independent access to clear sky. The approach projected decrease carbon emissions 118.4 billion kg/year compared current air-conditioning facilities powered electricity. Given low-cost raw excellent molding be manufactured through simple cost-effective roll-to-roll processes, suitable future building construction personal management needs.

Language: Английский

---

The impacts of rising vapour pressure deficit in natural and managed ecosystems

Plant Cell & Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 47(9), P. 3561 - 3589

Published: Feb. 13, 2024

An exponential rise in the atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD) is among most consequential impacts of climate change terrestrial ecosystems. Rising VPD has negative and cascading effects on nearly all aspects plant function including photosynthesis, water status, growth survival. These responses are exacerbated by land-atmosphere interactions that couple to soil govern evolution drought, affecting a range ecosystem services carbon uptake, biodiversity, provisioning resources crop yields. However, despite global nature this phenomenon, research how incorporate these into resilient management regimes largely its infancy, due part entanglement trends with those other co-evolving drivers. Here, we review mechanistic bases at spatial scales, paying particular attention independent interactive influence context environmental changes. We then evaluate consequences within key contexts, resources, croplands, wildfire risk mitigation natural grasslands forests. conclude recommendations describing could be altered mitigate otherwise highly deleterious rising VPD.

Language: Английский

---

Impacts on and damage to European forests from the 2018–2022 heat and drought events

Natural hazards and earth system sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 25(1), P. 77 - 117

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract. Drought and heat events in Europe are becoming increasingly frequent due to human-induced climate change, impacting both human well-being ecosystem functioning. The intensity effects of these vary across the continent, making it crucial for decision-makers understand spatial variability drought impacts. Data on drought-related damage currently dispersed scientific publications, government reports, media outlets. This study consolidates data European forests from 2018 2022, using Europe-wide datasets including those related crown defoliation, insect damage, burnt forest areas, tree cover loss. data, covering 16 countries, were analysed four regions, northern, central, Alpine, southern, compared with a reference period 2010 2014. Findings reveal that all zones experienced reduced vitality elevated temperatures, varying severity. Central showed highest vulnerability, coniferous deciduous trees. southern zone, while affected by loss, demonstrated greater resilience, likely historical exposure. northern zone is experiencing emerging impacts less severely, possibly site-adapted boreal species, Alpine minimal impact, suggesting protective effect altitude. Key trends include (1) significant loss zones; (2) high levels despite 2021 being an average year, indicating lasting previous years; (3) notable challenges central Sweden bark beetle infestations; (4) no increase wildfire severity ongoing challenges. Based this assessment, we conclude (i) highly vulnerable heat, even resilient ecosystems at risk severe damage; (ii) tailored strategies essential mitigate change forests, incorporating regional differences resilience; (iii) effective management requires harmonised collection enhanced monitoring address future comprehensively.

Language: Английский

---

Drought–heatwave nexus in Brazil and related impacts on health and fires: A comprehensive review

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 1517(1), P. 44 - 62

Published: Sept. 2, 2022

Abstract Climate change is drastically altering the frequency, duration, and severity of compound drought‐heatwave (CDHW) episodes, which present a new challenge in environmental socioeconomic sectors. These threats are particular importance low‐income regions with growing populations, fragile infrastructure, threatened ecosystems. This review synthesizes emerging progress understanding CDHW patterns Brazil while providing insights about impacts on fire occurrence public health. Evidence mounting that heatwaves becoming increasingly linked droughts northeastern southeastern Brazil, Amazonia, Pantanal. In those regions, recent studies have begun to build better physical mechanisms behind events, such as soil moisture–atmosphere coupling, promoted by exceptional atmospheric blocking conditions. Results hint at synergy between events high activity country over last decades, most example being catastrophic 2020 fires Moreover, we show HWs were responsible for increasing mortality preterm births during record‐breaking Brazil. work paves way more in‐depth their impacts, crucial enhance adaptive capacity different Brazilian

Language: Английский

---

Drought impacts on tree carbon sequestration and water use – evidence from intra‐annual tree‐ring characteristics

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 236(1), P. 58 - 70

Published: May 16, 2022

Summary The impact of climate extremes on forest ecosystems is poorly understood but important for predicting carbon and water cycle feedbacks to climate. Some knowledge gaps still remain regarding how drought‐related adjustments in intra‐annual tree‐ring characteristics directly tree use. In this study we quantified the an extreme summer drought water‐use efficiency sequestration four mature Norway spruce trees. We used detailed observations wood formation (xylogenesis) properties (quantitative anatomy stable isotopes) combined with physiological water‐stress monitoring. During 41 d deficit, observed enrichment 13 C a reduction cell enlargement wall‐thickening processes, which impacted anatomical characteristics. These diminished by 67% despite 11% increase during drought. However, resumption positive hydric state stem, fast recovery rates based accumulated assimilates produced Our findings enhance our understanding fluxes between atmosphere ecosystems, providing observational evidence dynamics improve future generations vegetation models.

Language: Английский

---

Central European 2018 hot drought shifts scots pine forest to its tipping point

Plant Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 24(7), P. 1186 - 1197

Published: July 23, 2022

The occurrence of hot drought, i.e. low water availability and simultaneous high air temperature, represents a severe threat to ecosystems. Here, we investigated how the 2018 drought in Central Europe caused tipping point tree ecosystem functioning Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest southwest Germany. Measurements stress indicators, such as needle potential, carbon assimilation volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, dominant P. trees were deployed evaluate during drought. Ecosystem impact recovery assessed exchange, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from satellite data mortality data. During summer 2018, potentials dropped minimum values -7.5 ± 0.2 MPa, which implied hydraulic impairment sylvestris. Likewise, VOC emissions strongly declined after mid-July. Decreasing NDVI August onwards detected, along with defoliation sylvestris, impairing flux 2019, shifting into year-round source. A total 47% all monitored (n = 368) died by September 2020. recovered pre-2018 levels likely emerging broadleaved understorey species. had negative impacts on co-occurrence unfavourable site-specific conditions recurrent droughts resulted accelerated mortality. Thus, pushed stand towards its point, subsequent shift broadleaf-dominated forest.

Language: Английский

---

Varying growth response of Central European tree species to the extraordinary drought period of 2018 – 2020

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 338, P. 109506 - 109506

Published: May 20, 2023

Language: Английский

---

Nutrient regime modulates drought response patterns of three temperate tree species

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 868, P. 161601 - 161601

Published: Jan. 13, 2023

Against the backdrop of global change, intensity, duration, and frequency droughts are projected to increase threaten forest ecosystems worldwide. Tree responses drought complex likely vary among species, characteristics, site conditions. Here, we examined response patterns three major temperate tree s. fir (Abies alba), E. beech (Fagus sylvatica), N. spruce (Picea abies), along an ecological gradient in South - Central East part Germany that included a total 37 sites with varying climatic soil We relied on annual tree-ring data assess influence different characteristics (micro-) conditions components resilience detect associated temporal changes. Our study revealed nutrient regime, frequency, hydraulic previous subsequent years were main determinants responses, pronounced differences species. Specifically, found (a) higher was resistance for beech; (b) more favorable two preceding following increased determined recovery potential after extreme drought; (c) site's rather than micro-site water availability, trees growing balanced regime having capacity withstand stress; (d) experienced long-term decline resilience. results indicate under stress benefit from supply highlight relevance availability immediately droughts. Observed trends confirm is suffering persistent changes, while coping better. These findings might be especially relevant monitoring, scenario analyses, ecosystem management.

Language: Английский

---