Climate Change Impact on the Absheron Peninsula Vegetation

Abstract

Climate change is one of the global problems of modern times, and the increase in the average annual temperature in our country over the past 100 years to 0.4–1.3 °C has affected the structure and function of cultural ecosystems in the Absheron Peninsula. In order to study the impact of climate change on the peninsula, dendrochronological and dendroclimatological studies were conducted, forest assessments were analyzed. The study found that the increase in carbon dioxide in forests due to climate change in the Greater and Lesser Caucasus has affected the growth dynamics, phenology, growth, root system and productivity of plants. The increase in CO2 in the Greater Caucasus is due to the endemic, rare, endangered tree plants of Azerbaijan Quercus castaneifolia C. A. Mey., Parrotia persica (DC.) C. A. Mey., Carpinus betulus L., Pinus eldarica Medw., and others. manifests itself more in species. As a result of warming observed in forests in the northern regions of the Greater Caucasus, an increase in the annual ring remnants of young trees was observed in 2010–2020 compared to 1850. Rapid growth of plants was observed in the early stages of plant growth in areas where the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere increased. At the same time, it should be noted that the excessive increase in CO2 in forests caused drought stress in July and August. Although climate change has affected the physiology and growth of trees in the study, increasing ozone in the area balances it by resisting the positive effects of CO2.