In the beech and spruce stands of the Kranzberg Forest near Munich, a unique long-term drought experiment has become the latest node in the growing StrucNet network. The KROOF (Kranzberg Forest Roof) project investigates how mature forest ecosystems respond to repeated and prolonged drought (learn more).
At the site, large retractable roofs exclude rainfall over selected plots, allowing researchers to simulate extreme drought under real forest conditions. The team of the Professorship of Earth Observation for Ecosystem Management (EOEM) at the Technical University of Munich has installed a new permanent LEAF structural scanner to continuously monitor canopy dynamics at high temporal and spatial resolution.
The scanner captures subtle changes in leaf density, crown structure, and light distribution as trees respond to water stress. Combined with physiological data, these observations provide valuable insights into drought resistance in both beech (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (Picea abies) stands.
By integrating the KROOF site into the StrucNet community, the network expands its ability to monitor forest structure and function under changing climate conditions, linking local experiments to continental-scale observations of ecosystem resilience.