New BG Letter: Persistent impacts of the 2018 drought on forest disturbance regimes in Europe

27 September 2021

Europe was affected by an extreme drought in 2018. The authors show that this drought has increased forest disturbances across Europe, especially central and eastern Europe. Disturbance levels observed 2018–2020 were the highest on record for 30 years. Increased forest disturbances were correlated with low moisture and high atmospheric water demand. The unprecedented impacts of the 2018 drought on forest disturbances demonstrate an urgent need to adapt Europe's forests to a hotter and drier future.

Contact: Cornelius Senf (cornelius.senf@tum.de)