Limited microclimatic buffering capacity in boreal forests calls for sustainable management strategies

Bibliographic Data

ID15549150
AuthorsI Starck (0000-0003-0229-8093, University of Helsinki, corresponding author), Juha Aalto (0000-0001-6819-4911, Finnish Meteorological Institute, corresponding author), Steven Hancock (0000-0001-5659-6964, University of Edinburgh, corresponding author), Julia Kemppinen (0000-0001-7521-7229, Finnish Museum of Natural History, corresponding author), Johanna Lehtinen (0009-0001-2350-141X, University of Helsinki, corresponding author), Miska Luoto (0000-0001-6203-5143, University of Helsinki, corresponding author), Pekka Niittynen (0000-0002-7290-029X, University of Jyväskylä, corresponding author), Tuuli Rissanen (University of Helsinki, corresponding author), Vilna Tyystjärvi (0000-0002-1175-5463, University of Bonn, corresponding author), Sauli Valkonen (0000-0002-2879-4821, Natural Resources Institute Finland, corresponding author), Eduardo Eiji Maeda (0000-0001-7932-1824, University of Helsinki, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume21
Issue1
Pages014011-014011
Publication date2025-12-16
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnvironmental Research Letters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1748-9326 • E-ISSN: 1748-9326
PublisherIOP Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1088/1748-9326/ae2d79
OpenAlexW4417409292
LanguageEN
References cited57

Forest canopies regulate the energy exchange between the atmosphere and Earth’s surface, creating microclimates that are often buffered from open-air temperature extremes and are critical for forest species under climate warming. However, the magnitude of this thermal buffering is strongly influenced by forest structure and management, and remains understudied. Using a comprehensive dataset of in-situ microclimate time series and high-resolution forest inventory data in Finland, we provide the first country-wide estimate of microclimate temperature buffering in boreal forests. We found that only 17% of forestry land has buffered climatic conditions, while in one-quarter of the land, temperature variation is amplified primarily due to low canopy cover in young stands. The microclimatic buffering patterns vary with biogeographical gradients. The extensive impact of forestry on boreal microclimates highlights the enormous potential of forest management to maintain stable temperatures. Prioritizing management practices that preserve canopy cover can help promote buffered microclimates in boreal forests

Boreal · Canopy · Climate change · Forest management · Microclimate · Taiga · Tree canopy · Forest Management and Policy · Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics · Tree-ring climate responses

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