Summary
This paper examines the cumulative impacts of the consecutive heat and drought events between 2018 and 2022 on European forests, a period widely regarded as exceptionally damaging to forest ecosystems across the continent. Drawing on a multi-author, cross-institutional team, the study likely synthesises observational, remote sensing, and modelling data to characterise the scale and geographic distribution of forest damage. The findings are expected to contribute to understanding of how compounding climate extremes interact with forest vulnerability and resilience across different European biomes.
UK applicability
The UK experienced drought and heat stress during the same 2018–2022 period, including the record-breaking summer of 2022, making the study broadly applicable to UK forest management and climate adaptation policy; however, the severity and forest composition differ somewhat from continental European systems most severely affected.
Key measures
Forest damage extent (area affected); tree mortality rates; drought stress indices; temperature anomalies; bark beetle infestation levels; timber volume losses
Outcomes reported
The study assessed the extent and nature of damage sustained by European forests during the prolonged heat and drought episodes of 2018–2022, likely quantifying tree mortality, dieback, bark beetle outbreaks, and forest productivity losses across multiple European regions.
Topic tags
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