Climate-Induced Global Forest Shifts due to Heatwave-Drought

Episodes of forest mortality attributed to extreme climate variability (e.g. droughts, heatwaves) associated with climate change are increasingly reported in most biomes. The severity and extent of the mortality are also modulated by soils and topography characteristics and the presence of other disturbances such as pests, pathogens, wildfires, windthrow, and past management. Palaeoecological and historical information show that drought-induced forests shifts have occurred in the past in many regions. However, anthropogenic causes are key determinants in current drought-induced transformations of forests to non-forested ecosystems.