Long-term monitoring of tree growth and climate impacts

We measure, at high temporal resolution, how stem diameter, soil moisture, and temperature change along different vegetation and environmental gradients. To do this, we have established permanently instrumented monitoring plots where TOMST sensors record surface and soil temperature as well as soil moisture, and TOMST dendrometers track the growth of individual trees at hourly to daily intervals.

These long-term measurements help us understand how drought stress, heatwaves, late frosts, and other extreme weather events affect tree vitality and growth, and how overall forest health is changing under climate warming. The data reveal when trees experience water stress, how quickly they recover, and which sites are particularly vulnerable – key information for managing future forests in a climate-resilient way and for developing adaptation strategies for boreal and mountain forests.