Assessing and predicting the impacts of extreme weather on vigour and productivity of apple and pear orchards in Flanders

Apple and pear production systems throughout Flanders are vulnerable to extreme weather events or episodes like frost during blooming, prolonged spring and summer drought, heat waves, storm and hail.  In this PhD-project the productivity and vulnerability of apple and pear orchards throughout Flanders under current and expected extreme/exceptional weather are investigated, with a focus on drought and heat waves. The methodological focus is on the analysis of time series of meteorological variables, soil water status and remotely sensed spectra (mainly Sentinel-II).