Compound climate events increase tree drought mortality across European forests

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151604
• Publication Date: 2021-11-12T06:50:20Z
• Authors: Antonio Gazol; J. Julio Camarero
• Keywords: Heat wave

Climate change can lead to the simultaneous occurrence of extreme droughts and heat waves increasing frequency compound events with unknown impacts on forests. Here we use two independent datasets, a compiled database tree drought mortality ICP-Forest level I plots, study hot summers, elevated vapour pressure deficit (VPD), dry years forest defoliation across Europe. We focused background rates, studied their co-occurrence summers years. In total, 143 out 310 Europe, i.e. 46% cases, corresponded rare characterized by Over past decades, summer temperature increased in most sites severe resulted not observed before 1980s. From plots identified 291 (1718 trees) 61 (128 where mortality, respectively, were caused drought. The analyses these showed that 34% 27% cases climate events, respectively. Background rates Europe period 1993-2013 presented higher values regions VPD more steeply rose, increased. steady increase temperatures Southern Eastern may favor conditions. Giving both, local intense are linked such expect an European over next decades.