Longer Growing Seasons Cause Hydrological Regime Shifts in Central European Forests
In this study, we present evidence for a hydrological regime shift in upland central European forests. Using a combination of long-term data, detailed field measurements and modelling, we show that there is a prolonged and persistent decline in annual runoff:precipitation ratios that is most likely...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1656 |
| _version_ | 1797504612149755904 |
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| author | Petr Kupec Jan Deutscher Martyn Futter |
| author_facet | Petr Kupec Jan Deutscher Martyn Futter |
| author_sort | Petr Kupec |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, we present evidence for a hydrological regime shift in upland central European forests. Using a combination of long-term data, detailed field measurements and modelling, we show that there is a prolonged and persistent decline in annual runoff:precipitation ratios that is most likely linked to longer growing seasons. We performed a long term (1950–2018) water balance simulation for a Czech upland forest headwater catchment calibrated against measured streamflow and transpiration from deciduous and coniferous stands. Simulations were corroborated by long-term (1965–2018) borehole measurements and historical drought reports. A regime shift from positive to negative catchment water balances likely occurred in the early part of this century. Since 2007, annual runoff:precipitation ratios have been below the long-term average. Annual average temperatures have increased, but there have been no notable long term trends in precipitation. Since 1980, there has been a pronounced April warming, likely leading to earlier leaf out and higher annual transpiration, making water unavailable for runoff generation and/or soil moisture recharge. Our results suggest a regime shift due to second order effects of climate change where increased transpiration associated with a longer growing season leads to a shift from light to water limitation in central European forests. This will require new approaches to managing forests where water limitation has previously not been a problem. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:07:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-32e9864878534c1983b98b535538fdcd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:07:02Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-32e9864878534c1983b98b535538fdcd2023-11-23T08:20:33ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-11-011212165610.3390/f12121656Longer Growing Seasons Cause Hydrological Regime Shifts in Central European ForestsPetr Kupec0Jan Deutscher1Martyn Futter2Department of Landscape Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech RepublicDepartment of Landscape Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech RepublicDepartment of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7070, SE-75007 Uppsala, SwedenIn this study, we present evidence for a hydrological regime shift in upland central European forests. Using a combination of long-term data, detailed field measurements and modelling, we show that there is a prolonged and persistent decline in annual runoff:precipitation ratios that is most likely linked to longer growing seasons. We performed a long term (1950–2018) water balance simulation for a Czech upland forest headwater catchment calibrated against measured streamflow and transpiration from deciduous and coniferous stands. Simulations were corroborated by long-term (1965–2018) borehole measurements and historical drought reports. A regime shift from positive to negative catchment water balances likely occurred in the early part of this century. Since 2007, annual runoff:precipitation ratios have been below the long-term average. Annual average temperatures have increased, but there have been no notable long term trends in precipitation. Since 1980, there has been a pronounced April warming, likely leading to earlier leaf out and higher annual transpiration, making water unavailable for runoff generation and/or soil moisture recharge. Our results suggest a regime shift due to second order effects of climate change where increased transpiration associated with a longer growing season leads to a shift from light to water limitation in central European forests. This will require new approaches to managing forests where water limitation has previously not been a problem.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1656forest hydrologytipping pointwater balance modelling |
| spellingShingle | Petr Kupec Jan Deutscher Martyn Futter Longer Growing Seasons Cause Hydrological Regime Shifts in Central European Forests Forests forest hydrology tipping point water balance modelling |
| title | Longer Growing Seasons Cause Hydrological Regime Shifts in Central European Forests |
| title_full | Longer Growing Seasons Cause Hydrological Regime Shifts in Central European Forests |
| title_fullStr | Longer Growing Seasons Cause Hydrological Regime Shifts in Central European Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Longer Growing Seasons Cause Hydrological Regime Shifts in Central European Forests |
| title_short | Longer Growing Seasons Cause Hydrological Regime Shifts in Central European Forests |
| title_sort | longer growing seasons cause hydrological regime shifts in central european forests |
| topic | forest hydrology tipping point water balance modelling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/12/1656 |
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