Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

Deep layers of sand and gravel cover, relatively low water storage capabilities of the soil, and groundwater level depth, usually below the tree roots layer, are environmental conditions causing Puszcza Zielonka Forest to be highly susceptible to drought. The water available to the forest in Puszcza Zielonka is strongly subjected to the dynamics of weather conditions, both on the side of input and output, which are precipitation and evapotranspiration. These conditions have severe implications and are crucial determinants determining the frames of forest management, particularly regarding the climate change context. We have assessed the dynamics of meteorological elements and drought indices from 1901 to 2020 for the annual, monthly, seasonal, and vegetation periods. We studied air temperature, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, climatic water balance, and drought measures: Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index and Palmer Drought Severity Index. The main changes in climate parameters, including the rate dynamics thresholds (changepoints), were studied.