Climatic drivers of tree growth

Understanding future climate dynamics is critically important to understand how adaptive management approaches can be developed and applied. However, adjusting growth projections to the new climate reality first requires identification of the key climatic variables that alter tree growth. Using a dendrochronological approach, Catherine Chagnon will utilise existing tree core databases, collected across Canadian forests, as well as new core information from Hub sites with the objective to identify the climatic events and conditions most susceptible to alter tree growth. The analysis includes the effects of both short, acute climatic events like drought, and more monotonic increases in average temperatures. Outcome (AN.1a): Identification and definition of key climate variables that affect tree growth across Canada.

Catherine Chagnon, RA at Université Laval
Main Partner: Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (Québec)
Professor Alexis Achim