Assessing Tree Response to Climatic Stressors: Insights from IoT-Driven Forest Monitoring

Forest ecosystems are increasingly affected by intensified disturbance regimes driven both localized and larger scaled climate variation, with impacts on tree growth, physiological processes, and ecosystem productivity. This study utilizes an IoT-enabled sensor network to monitor forest dynamics in a Quercus cerris L. stand, aiming to assess tree responses to climatic variability over two consecutive years, 2021 and 2022.

High-frequency data on radial growth, sap flux density, spectrometric observations, rainfall, stem saturation percentage, temperature and humidity, were collected, providing a comprehensive view of tree-level responses to environmental drivers. Preliminary results suggest a notable reduction in radial growth in 2022 compared to 2021, alongside variations in sap flow and differences in leaf out periods across both years. Furthermore, noticeable differences in both seasonal patterns of RH and Temperature collected by the network of sensors are evident. These changes appear to align with shifts in climatic conditions, particularly precipitation patterns across each year, though the precise mechanisms remain to be fully explored.

The study highlights the potential of IoT-enabled monitoring systems to uncover complex interactions between climate drivers and forest dynamics, offering valuable insights into tree vulnerability. By analyzing diverse datasets, this research contributes to understanding forest sensitivity to climatic stressors and informs the development of adaptive management strategies for sustaining forest health and productivity under changing environmental conditions.