Global warming increases frost damage on trees in large areas of Central Europe, according to a new Finnish-Chinese study by researchers from the University of Eastern Finland, the Chinese Academy of Science and Zhejiang A&F University.
Late frost damages are economically important in agriculture and forestry. In certain years, they are known to have caused losses amounting to up to hundreds of millions of euros.
Climate change and increasing temperatures will diminish the occurrence and severity of spring frost events, which should reduce frost damages.
“However, global warming also has another, negative consequence: plants flower and leaf out earlier than they used to. As a result, the incidence of frost damages will increase,” says Professor Frank Berninger from the University of Eastern Finland.
Read more at University of Eastern Finland
Image: Global warming increases frost damage on trees. Frost damages can cause losses amounting to up to hundreds of millions of euros. (Credit: UEF)