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The tree line is shifting upwards due to climate change – are the mountains growing over?

2022-07-18T09:34:31.983Z


The tree line is shifting upwards due to climate change – are the mountains growing over? Created: 07/18/2022Updated: 07/18/2022 11:25 am By: Felix Herz Less ice, more forest: Due to climate change, the tree line in the Alps is shifting upwards (symbolic image). © imagebroker / IMAGO The consequences of climate change in Bavaria are particularly evident in the mountains. It's getting warmer, g


The tree line is shifting upwards due to climate change – are the mountains growing over?

Created: 07/18/2022Updated: 07/18/2022 11:25 am

By: Felix Herz

Less ice, more forest: Due to climate change, the tree line in the Alps is shifting upwards (symbolic image).

© imagebroker / IMAGO

The consequences of climate change in Bavaria are particularly evident in the mountains.

It's getting warmer, glaciers are receding - and trees are growing to new heights.

Limestone Alps - climate change and mountains: A connection that has not only been highly topical since the tragic glacier crash in the Italian Alps.

Because global warming is particularly evident in the mountains - the climate in the Alps has warmed by 1.8 degrees since 1970. For comparison: in the last 100 years it has gotten 2 degrees warmer there.

In the Merkur interview, the meteorologist Manuel Oberhuber also said: "The mountains are changing drastically".

This is now also shown by recent scientific studies published by BR in a report.

Climate change in the Alps: tree line is shifting

Scientists in the Wetterstein are investigating what exactly climate change means for the Alps in Bavaria, according to the BR.

As early as 1986, the forest scientist Hans-Gerd Michiels mapped all plant species there.

It is an ideal area - man has not interfered with the unique nature reserve for 50 years.

Now six forest scientists and forest ecologists are back in the forest area - to compare.

What has changed since the mapping in 1986?

At first glance, the spruce forest in the Wetterstein Mountains looks typical.

But according to BR there is a beech at 1480 meters above sea level.

The special feature: 36 years ago, the highest beech was still growing at 1390 meters above sea level.

This means that today the beech finds acceptable living conditions almost 100 meters higher than it used to be in order to grow.

The find is not only an example of how climate change is affecting the Alpine region, but also has direct consequences.

A beech tree in the subalpine spruce forest is slowly transforming it into a mixed forest - according to scientist Jörg Ewald, the optimal habitat for capercaillies can be lost as a result.

(By the way: Our Bayern newsletter informs you about all the important stories from Bavaria. Register here.)

More plants in the high Alps: A sign of climate change

At 1560 meters there is a spot that was mapped in great detail in 1986.

Today there is much more vegetation there.

In 1986 there were 45 plants and 18 mosses within a radius of eight meters.

Today there are 65 plants and 25 mosses - a noticeable increase.

And here too, writes BR, there was a beech tree.

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One of the largest stone pine forests in Bavaria grows further up, directly below the rock faces of the Wetterstein Wall.

But he, too, faces competition from trees that grow back from below and advance to new heights.

According to Hans-Gerd Michiels, the stone pine is the most precarious tree species in the Bavarian Alps.

Jörg Ewald draws a first conclusion.

The old tree line of 1800 meters is no longer valid, it has long been outdated.

According to BR, the potential tree line is already 2100 meters above sea level.

(fhz)

All news and stories from Bavaria can now also be found on our brand new Facebook page Merkur Bayern.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-07-18

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