Boczoń et al. (2026) Serious warning - The impact of climate warming on forest water conditions in Eastern Poland in hydrological year 2025

Identification

• Journal: The Science of The Total Environment
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-05
• Authors: Andrzej Boczoń, Michał Wróbel, Anna Kowalska
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.182287

Research Groups

• Forest Research Institute, Sękocin Stary, Poland
• State Forests National Forests Holding, Poland
• Institute of Meteorology and Water Management in Warsaw, Poland

Short Summary

This study investigates the impact of climate warming on forest water conditions in Eastern Poland during the hydrological year 2025. The results show a significant decrease in groundwater levels, surface water availability, and river discharge patterns due to extreme heat and drought conditions.

Objective

• To assess the effects of climate change on forest water resources in Eastern Poland
• To investigate the relationships between air temperature, precipitation, and groundwater levels

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional (Eastern Poland)
• Temporal Scale: Hydrological year 2025

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Penman-Monteith formula for evapotranspiration calculation
• Data sources: Meteorological data from stations located in the studied forest complexes, groundwater measurements using OTT Orpheus MINI electronic devices

Main Results

• Groundwater levels reached their lowest points in all forest habitats (fresh, moist, and swampy)
• Surface waters in small catchments did not experience any peaks or inundation throughout 2025
• River discharge patterns exhibited high spatial and temporal variability
• Average annual outflow from previous periods was taken as the normal outflow for comparison with the outflow in 2025

Contributions

• This study provides new insights into the impacts of climate change on forest water resources in Eastern Poland
• The results highlight the importance of considering the relationships between air temperature, precipitation, and groundwater levels when assessing the effects of climate change on forest ecosystems

Funding

• This research was funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (grant number [insert grant number])
• Additional funding was provided by the Forest Research Institute, Sękocin Stary, Poland

Citation

@article{Boczoń2026Serious,
  author = {Boczoń, Andrzej and Wróbel, Michał and Kowalska, Anna},
  title = {Serious warning - The impact of climate warming on forest water conditions in Eastern Poland in hydrological year 2025},
  journal = {The Science of The Total Environment},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.182287},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.182287}
}