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

Natural hazards and earth system sciences, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 25(1), С. 77 - 117

Опубликована: Янв. 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.

Язык: Английский

---

Different triggers, different stories: Bark-beetle infestation patterns after storm and drought-induced outbreaks

Forest Ecology and Management, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 545, С. 121255 - 121255

Опубликована: Июль 18, 2023

In the recent decades, Norway spruce forests (Picea abies Karst.) in Europe have been subject to large-scale tree mortality caused by bark beetle (Ips typographus L.). The outbreaks were induced storm-felling events and periods of drought, which are becoming increasingly frequent due climate change. Because storms droughts spatially affect differently, infestation patterns configuration beetles might differ between drought. this study, we examined local landscape factors associated with beetle-caused after one storm (2005) drought-induced outbreak (2018), both occurring southern Sweden. A total 13,192 infested one-ha pixels 6,425 drought (in 19,617) compared regarding differences occurrence size forest structures two different outbreaks, using a generalized linear model (GLM) approach. Based on our findings, discovered that allocation patch sizes (including four classes: 5–10, 11–25, 26–50 >50 trees) for quite similar large proportion (>0.6) small groups (≤10 trees). However, outcomes from study demonstrate drivers behind spatial infestations can considerably triggered droughts, main cause seems be linked distribution susceptible trees. most consistent storm-induced increased more volumes area protected (nature reserves) landscape; whereas infestations, clear-cuts heights across scales. Soil moisture mean index (SPEI; May-July) important but generally than may involve time-lagged effect. reasoning during when wind-felled trees removed or not suitable anymore, need find specific standing trees, while all less stressed, results selection dry warm landscapes as they resources favorable reproduction conditions. Finally, show previous influenced later negatively within 25 ha related depletion host These assessment predictions, should integrated future risk mapping outbreaks.

Язык: Английский

---

Ecosystem services at risk from disturbance in Europe's forests

Global Change Biology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 30(3)

Опубликована: Март 1, 2024

Abstract Global change impacts on disturbances can strongly compromise the capacity of forests to provide ecosystem services society. In addition, many in Europe are simultaneously provided by forests, emphasizing importance multifunctionality forest assessments. To address policies and management, spatially explicit risk analyses that consider multiple needed. However, we do not yet know which most at from Europe, where respective hotspots are, nor main disturbance agents detrimental provisioning Europe's forests. Here, quantify losing important (timber supply, carbon storage, soil erosion control outdoor recreation) (windthrows, bark beetle outbreaks wildfires) a continental scale. We find up 12% service supply is current disturbances. Soil highest risk, windthrow agent posing risk. Disturbances challenge threatening 19.8 Mha (9.7%) Our results highlight priority areas for management aiming safeguard sustainable services.

Язык: Английский

---

Multispectral drone images for the early detection of bark beetle infestations: assessment over large forest areas in the Italian South-Eastern Alps

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 8

Опубликована: Фев. 27, 2025

Introduction European forests face increasing threats from climate change-induced stressors, which create favorable conditions for bark beetle outbreaks. The most critical spruce forest pest in Europe is the Spruce Bark Beetle ( Ips typographus L.). Effective management of this beetles’ outbreaks necessitates timely detection recently attacked trees, challenging given difficulty identifying symptoms on infested tree crowns, especially over large areas. This study assessed detectability trees dominated areas (20–60 ha) using high-resolution drone multispectral imagery. Methods A sensor mounted an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was used to capture images investigated stands weekly during June 2023. These were compute reflectance all single derive vegetation indices, and then compare these between healthy ones. Results results showed that it possible separate spectral features final developmental stage first generation, despite limitations due difficulties image processing best performing indices included NDRE (Normalized Difference Red Edge index) GNDVI (Green Normalized Vegetation Index), allowed earlier separation trees. Discussion shows use UAV imagery can present some when early larger integration sensors focused narrower windows around Red-Edge Green bands other remote sensing methods (e.g., satellite imagery) could help overcome improve early-detection proposed approach will increase understanding factors consider with techniques. In particular, add insights upscaling spatial scales, providing useful guidance suffering

Язык: Английский

---

Spruce Bark Beetle Outbreak Prediction through Automatic Classification of Sentinel-2 Imagery

Forests, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14(6), С. 1116 - 1116

Опубликована: Май 28, 2023

Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity, posing a threat to forest ecosystems eliciting forest-pest outbreaks. In the southern Italian Alps, dramatic windthrow called Vaia occurred October 2018, shifting populations of European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) from an endemic epidemic phase. Remote-sensing methods often employed detect areas affected by disturbances, such as outbreaks, over large regions. this study, random model on Sentinel-2 images acquired south-eastern Alps 2021 2022 was used outbreak spots. The automatic classification tested validated exploiting ground data collected through survey conducted both healthy infested spots, characterized variable sizes degrees infestation. correctly identified conditions (healthy or infested) with overall accuracy 72% for 58% 2021. These results highlight possibility locating I. typographus even small spots (between 5 50 trees) intermixed trees. prompt detection higher outbreaks could be useful tool integrate field surveys select which concentrate management operations.

Язык: Английский

---

Impacts and damages of the European multi-year drought and heat event 2018–2022 on forests, a review

Опубликована: Июль 26, 2023

Abstract. Drought and heat events are becoming more frequent in Europe due to human-induced climate change, affecting many aspects of human well-being ecosystem functioning. However, the intensity these drought is not spatially temporally uniform. Understanding spatial variability impacts important information for decision makers, supporting both planning preparations cope with changing climatic conditions. Currently, data relating damage caused by extended episodes scattered across languages sources such as scientific publications, governmental reports media. In this review paper, we compiled damages 2018 until 2022 forest ecosystems relate it large European sets, providing support making on regional levels. We partitioned from 16 countries following regions: Northern, Central, Alpine, South. focused forests, categorized them (1) physiological (2) pest, (3) fire damage. were able identify key trends: Relative defoliation rates broadleaves higher than conifers every country exception Czech Republic incidence wood destroyed insects extremely high Central Sweden Although fires can be related drought, they superimposed other anthropogenic influences (4) period (2018–2022), forests central particularly affected, while Northern Alpine zones less adaptations still observed Southern zone. (5) several regions 2021 was an average year levels indicating strong legacy effects 2018–2020. note that inventory should continuously updated new appear.

Язык: Английский

---

Sap flow and growth response of Norway spruce under long-term partial rainfall exclusion at low altitude

Frontiers in Plant Science, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14

Опубликована: Фев. 14, 2023

Under ongoing climate change, more frequent and severe drought periods accompanied by heat waves are expected in the future. these conditions, tree's survival is conditioned fast recovery of functions after release. Therefore, presented study, we evaluated effect long-term water reduction soil on tree use growth dynamics Norway spruce.The experiment was conducted two young spruce plots located suboptimal sites at a low altitude 440 m a.s.l. In first plot (PE), 25% precipitation throughfall excluded since 2007, second one represented control treatment with ambient conditions (PC). Tree sap flow, stem radial increment, deficit were monitored consecutive growing seasons: 2015-2016, contrasting hydro-climatic conditions.Trees both treatments showed relatively isohydric behavior reflected strong flow under exceptional 2015. Nevertheless, trees from PE reduced faster than PC decreasing potential, exhibiting stomatal response. This led to significantly lower PE, compared The maximal rates also for treatment, PC. Both experienced minimal during 2015 subsequent humid year 2016. However, did not differ increments within respective years.Precipitation exclusion therefore, loss adjustment, but affect response intense drought.

Язык: Английский

---

When tree diversity does not work: The interacting effects of tree diversity, altitude and amount of spruce on European spruce bark beetle outbreaks

Forest Ecology and Management, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 537, С. 120952 - 120952

Опубликована: Март 29, 2023

Язык: Английский

---

Spatial and remote sensing monitoring shows the end of the bark beetle outbreak on Belgian and north-eastern France Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 196(3)

Опубликована: Фев. 2, 2024

Язык: Английский

---

A Sentinel-2 Based Multi-Temporal Monitoring Framework for Wind and Bark Beetle Detection and Damage Mapping

Remote Sensing, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 14(23), С. 6105 - 6105

Опубликована: Дек. 1, 2022

The occurrence of extreme windstorms and increasing heat drought events induced by climate change leads to severe damage stress in coniferous forests, making trees more vulnerable spruce bark beetle infestations. combination abiotic biotic disturbances forests can cause drastic environmental economic losses. first step containing such is establishing a monitoring framework for the early detection plots distinguishing forest at scales from management unit region. To develop evaluate functionality framework, we selected an area interest affected windthrow beetles border between Italy Austria Friulian Dolomites, Carnic Julian Alps Carinthian Gailtal. Secondly, implemented time-series analysis with open-access Sentinel-2 data over four years (2017–2020) quantifying single-band sensitivity disturbances. Additionally, enhanced deploying vegetation indices monitor spectral changes perform supervised image classification detection. A mean overall accuracy 89% was achieved; thus, imagery proved be suitable stressed stands, bark-beetle-attacked canopies wind-felled patches. advantages our methodology are its large-scale applicability health forest-cover usability support development strategies dealing massive outbreaks.

Язык: Английский

---