Forest responses to extreme events: Insights from remote sensing and process-based modelling

Extreme events can have severe impacts on ecosystems, their functioning and on the services they provide. For example, extended drought periods and heat waves are occuring more frequently and intensely in the recent past, with severe consequences for forests. My talk will give insights on the impacts of extended drought periods and heat waves on two different forest ecosystem types. First, I show how drought-impacts on forest ecosystems can be detected using the European Forest Condition Monitor and the Amazon Canopy Condition Monitor, which are based on remotely-sensed canopy greenness. Then I exemplify how the fusion of remotely-sensed canopy greenness and model simulation output helps to quantify tree-species specific drought-vulnerabilities. My talk also demonstrates how process-based models can help to assess impacts of extreme events on forest dynamics and composition, and on the carbon and water cycle. I present new developments from the process-based vegetation model LPJ-GUESS regarding the representation of drought-response strategies of different forest types and tree species. Finally, I will discuss how climate change and the impacts of extreme events can lead to different ecosystem recovery trajectories after disturbance.