Trends of Water Stress Index and Meteorological Parameters for Upper Biebrza Wetlands

The paper analyzes trends of the Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) and meteorological parameters in the Upper Biebrza riparian wetlands in Poland from 1990 to 2021. Wetlands are vital ecosystems providing various ecosystem goods and services but are vulnerable to human activities and climate change. The CWSI, a method orginally developed for monitoring vegetation hydrological stress in agricultural environments, assesses water stress in wetlands based on canopy temperature and meteorological parameters. The study examines the interaction between CWSI and basic meteorological parameters, including air temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation. Satellite imagery and meteorological data are utilized to analyze the long-term trends. The results indicate a decreasing trend in CWSI, although not statistically significant, along with increasing temperature and relative humidity trends. Precipitation shows a slightly increasing trend but is not statistically significant. Further comprehensive analysis considering additional CWSI drivers and habitat types is needed to understand the relationship between water stress and meteorological factors in wetlands.