Climate change poses a particular risk to pine trees growing in dry areas, a new University of Eastern Finland study conducted in an urban recreational forest in Helsinki shows.
Climate change poses a particular risk to pine trees growing in dry areas, a new University of Eastern Finland study conducted in an urban recreational forest in Helsinki shows.
Tree mortality has increased in the 21st century. This phenomenon is primarily driven by drought, heat waves, pests and forest fires, all of which have become more common with climate change.
Published in Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, a new study explores the factors contributing to tree mortality in an urban recreational forest in Helsinki, colloquially known as the Helsinki Central Park. Located in the boreal zone, the main tree species found in this urban forest include Norway spruce, Scots pine and silver birch.
The researchers used aerial image data spanning 16 years, from 2005 to 2021, to visually identify dead trees without the aid of artificial intelligence. They compared the observed tree deaths with data on tree species, soil types, temperature and rainfall conditions, and drought severity indices.
Read more at University of Eastern Finland
Photo Credit: MolnarSzabolcsErdely via Pixabay
