DENDROKLIMA

Background and Objective

For this purpose, a variety of dendrochronological data (isotopic signatures of carbon and oxygen, wood anatomical features, ring widths) and data from intensive forest monitorings (Level II plots) are evaluated and physiological relationships between climate and growth deduced. These relationships are implemented in the process-based and statistical forest growth models 4C and CLIMTREG for generalizing the responses of these tree species to the area of central Europe. The project is focusing at the adaptability of the two tree species to drought. Sampling campaigns will be carried out intensively (at Potsdam-Telegrafenberg) to derive at the climate-growth relationships and extensively (at the Level II plots in Germany) for validation and generalization of the models.
Subsequently, growth of both species will be simulated under present-day climate and future climate scenarios at the Level II plots throughout Germany. The results will be compared among the models and it will be discussed the adaptability of both tree species as well as the impact of projected climate change.

Approach

- Intensive and extensive sampling scheme of both species;
- Analysis of annual growth and stable isotope chronologies;
- Correlation of climate and growth using two models;
- Model comparison and validation;