Possible impact of climatic change on forested landscapes in Central Europe: a review
This paper briefly reviews and tentatively discusses 1) former climatic changes and their impact on forests, 2) the impact of climatic warming on the genetic constitution of forest trees, their physiological processes, and the possible alteration
of forest environments, 3) the changes in the latitudinal and altitudinal zonation of forests, 4) the repercussions of possible diseases and pests on the vitality of forests, and 5) changes in the function of forests in Central European landscapes.
Changement global ; Domaine subarctique ; Effet de serre ; Pergélisol ; Propriétés du sol ; Température ; Variation climatique ; Végétation ; Zone froide
Climatic variation ; Cold area ; Global change ; Greenhouse effect ; Permafrost ; Soil properties ; Subarctic area ; Temperature ; Vegetation
The assessment of the effects of climatic change on permafrost is very complicated, as ground temperatures are influenced by local factors, which are interrelated with climate. Most important of these local factors are the snow cover thickness
and duration, the vegetation, and the organic layer and soil properties. Variations in these variables may either enhance or counteract each other, which makes it difficult to predict the accumulated effect of all changes. The analysis of permafrost temperature
as a function of depth appears to yield a temporally integrated record of air temperature changes in the past.
Scenarios from the past are chosen which show environmental conditions similar to the present and possible near-future ones in order to evaluate the consequences of specific paleoclimatic changes for landscape evolution. Then, the degree
of equivalence between the analogous geological events and the actual situations can be discussed. Two cases of rapid warming are taken from the geological history to illustrate the impact of such a climatic change on the landscape of the lowlands
Firstly snow as material and the climatic role of a snow-cover are described. Secondly, past changes of the Alpine snow-cover (quantity and quality), key variables and recent trends are enumerated. Finally, past fluctuations of avalanche activity
due to a climatic change are discussed. Subsequent socio-economic effects are described.
Response of alpine vegetation to global climate change
Alpes ; Bio-indicateur ; Changement global ; Dioxyde de carbone ; Europe ; Montagne ; Réchauffement climatique ; Température ; Végétation
Alps (The) ; Biological indicator ; Carbon dioxide ; Climatic warming ; Europe ; Global change ; Mountain ; Temperature ; Vegetation
under reduced atmospheric pressure at high altitudes. High altitudes plants are therefore particularly suited for early warning components of a comprehensive global monitoring effort on vegetation change. This recommendation is also warranted by the fact
Climate change and boreal forest fires in Fennoscandia and central Canada
concerning the current low level of forest fires in Fennoscandia is misplaced. Likewise, temporal variations in forest have induced important changes in Canadian landscapes, and the same may be true of Fennoscandia if increased forest fire occurrence
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the processes involved in the exchange of carbon between the atmosphere and the organic deposits in peatlands. Particularly, the possible changes in the past in comparison with present-day conditions