Microclimate in forest ecosystems

Climate change impact biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in forests. However, current understanding of the impacts of climate change on forests is mainly based on data from reference weather stations (i.e. the macroclimate). The macroclimate differs from actual climatic conditions in the understory, which vary at small scale in space and time (i.e., the microclimate). However, the factors that regulate the microclimate in forests are poorly understood. The aim of the project is to better understand the role of vegetation structure in regulating microclimate. To achieve this, we will measure spatio-temporal variations in temperature and humidity bellow the canopy in the Bois Chamblard. We will use remote sensing technologies to measure different aspects of vegetation structure in three dimensions. This will enable us to better understand the capacity of forests to regulate climate change and to provide micro-habitats for organisms living in these ecosystems.