The aim of my PhD project is to create knowledge for improved thinning guidelines that are adapted to a more precise forest management based on individual tree information from remote sensing, and to create knowledge about how thinning can be done to better meet consequences of climate changes and extreme weather events by increasing the understanding of forest health in dry years and other disturbances.
Studies 1 and 2 will be done based on old thinning experiments - the GG experiment and the corridor thinning trials, respectively. For Study 1, the goal is to understand the short- and long-terms effects of thinning on the climate-growth relationship of Scots pine trees. For Study 2, the aim is to evaluate the growth effect of thinning on trees of different size classes and spatial distribution and whether spatial distribution after thinning is important for the growth of individual trees.
For Studies 3 and 4, a new thinning experiment has been established. The aim is to understand the effect of thinning grade on individual tree stem-wood, branches and needle-increment (Study 3) and on light absorption (APAR) and water- and nutrient uptake of individual trees (Study 4).
