Extreme Heatwave Causes Immediate, Widespread Mortality of Forest Canopy Foliage, Highlighting Modes of Forest Sensitivity to Extreme Heat

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Abstract

In late June 2021, multiple days of record-breaking heat caused an unprecedented amount of foliage death in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA. Portions of tree canopies with healthy green foliage prior to the heat changed to red or orange shortly after the event. The change in foliage color could be readily seen in satellite imagery and was corroborated as foliar death (heat scorch) by aerial surveys and extensive observations on the ground. To better understand the patterns and processes driving foliar death, we used satellite imagery to identify 293,546 ha of forest, or ~4.7% of forest area, that were damaged in western Oregon and Washington by this extreme heat event. Analysis of underlying drivers of the observed heat damage indicated greater sensitivity was related to abiotic factors such as sun exposure, aspect, and microclimate, as well as biotic factors like tree species and stand age, budburst phenology, and foliar pathogens impacting tree health. Iconic, culturally and economically significant species like western redcedar, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce were disproportionately sensitive to heat damage, including in old-growth stands where they are canopy dominants. These findings highlight the multifaceted challenges posed to forests by extreme heat waves, and the need to better understand their impact on forest ecosystems in a rapidly warming climate.