Data on multi-year drought impacts on European beech in northern Switzerland

This study investigated multi-year drought impacts on beech forests through a unique large-scale monitoring of 963 individual beech trees, which showed either premature leaf discoloration during the drought in summer 2018 or no visible damage. We conducted the study in two highly drought-affected regions in northern Switzerland and one less drought-affected region located further south. We quantified the development of crown dieback and tree mortality as well as secondary drought damage, i.e. the presence of bleeding cankers and bark beetle infestations, in these trees for three consecutive years. We also determined the impact of several potential climate- and stand-related (predisposing) factors on mortality and drought legacy processes.