A new study out today in the first issue of Environmental Research: Ecology, published by IOP Publishing, assessed effects of past and current climate variability on global forest productivity.
A new study out today in the first issue of Environmental Research: Ecology, published by IOP Publishing, assessed effects of past and current climate variability on global forest productivity. The work highlights sensitive regions where forests may be most at risk as the planet warms and temperatures become more extreme. The framework can help set conservation priorities, support forest adaptation efforts, and improve carbon accounting.
Lead author Winslow Hansen, a forest ecologist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, says, “Global climate patterns are becoming increasingly variable. This means more extremes, which threaten forest health and productivity. They say adversity makes you stronger. Here, we were essentially testing that adage for trees. Are forested regions that experienced more variable conditions in the past better prepared to tolerate variable climate now and in the future?”
The team looked at global climate records for two 20-year study periods, 1950-1969 and 2000-2019, to identify regional trends in climate variability. Records included monthly mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures, total precipitation, and mean vapor pressure deficit (a measure of how dry the air is). Global data were gridded at a 0.5° spatial resolution.
Read more at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Photo Credit: jplenio via Pixabay
