Analysing pine forest ecosystems from Transylvania in the context of future Climatic Changes

Abstract

A climatic modelling program was used in order to see the extent of changes in future climatic conditions. This can realize prognosis for certain climatic factors that cause extreme climatic phenomena concerning forest ecosystems. The program was applied for forest ecosystems comprised of Scots pine, installed and inventoried on sample surfaces from Transylvania. Simulations were then created within two future climatic scenarios. Two scenarios were chosen: the climatic scenario in which the increase of greenhouse gases would be moderate (rcp-4.5) and the climatic scenario in which the increase would be accentuated (rcp-8.5). The data was then processed, resulting in an analysis focused on the results of future climatic changes on forest ecosystems located in the studied area. By analyzing all three pine stands, we can conclude that the Lechinta stand is the most vulnerable one if the two climatic parameters change. It is necessary to verify and use future climatic scenarios for other areas that have the same species, as well as for other species, in order to see how they will be affected. These results can be used for applying the best management measures for current stands as well as for establishing decisions for installing future stands at a national level.

Keywords

• climate change
• forest ecosystems
• pine
• transylvania