The impact of the 2003-2008 weather variability on intra-annual stem diameter changes of beech trees at a submontane site in central Slovakia

In view of the expected climate change, including warmer springs and a higher frequency of summer droughts and heat waves, we expect a shift in the culmination of beech seasonal diameter increase towards May. Intensive drought and heat periods during summer will probably stress the beech populations growing close to their lower altitudinal limit.