The 1986 Chornobyl nuclear accident caused extensive radioactive fallout, severely impacting tree communities in the surrounding exclusion zone.

Decades later, the radiation continues to influence tree survival and growth. Heree we present our study that investigates the long-term effects of radiation on Scots pine radial growth and its sensitivity to climate variations. By examining two sites with varying radiation exposure from the original fallout, we aim to discern the differences in growth responses. We employ innovative methods, including the Full-Duration at Half-Maximum (FDHM) technique and a double-moving window approach, to analyze these effects.

Our findings reveal significant growth reduction in pines exposed to sub-lethal radiation levels, while those exposed to moderate radiation showed no such decline. Additionally, we identified growth patterns related to climate, independent of the radiation effects.

This research provides insights into the long-term ecological impact of radioactive contamination on forests and highlights the need for advanced methods in future studies.