Response of European Mountain Forests to Abrupt Climate Change
Abstract
Paleoclimatic data reveals large abrupt climate changes such as the Younger Dryas and the 8.2 ka event. Alpine forests are characterized by distinct ecotonal borderlines and their vulnerability to such events is potentially high, although there are hardly any assessments made up to now. Both paleo-records and climate-model projections are used to conduct a model simulation with the forest ecosystem model PICUS v1.3. Impacts on Norwegian spruce-dominated mountain forests along an altitudinal transect are investigated. Ecosystem-specific thresholds are identified, the potential magnitude of loss is quantified and possible negative feedbacks to the carbon cycle are assessed.