Hydrological role of central european forests in changing climate –review

Abstract

Climate change exerts one of the most relevant impacts on hydrological processes by altering precipitation patterns and evapotranspiration processes. Forests, the terrestrial ecosystems with the highest water demand, will likely be the most influenced by the changing water regime. The study aims to outline the vital role forests play in the global water cycle, a role that increases as climate change intensifies. The deforestation that has occurred in recent years is a main trigger of global climate change, one that negatively affects climate-sensitive areas. The study focuses on the importance of crown and litter interception as well as the manner in which climate change alters these. We also present some results for forest and groundwater relations in Hungary and the impact of forests on runoff during extreme weather conditions.