Researchers analyzed over 500 years of harvest records, finding that climate change has caused winegrape harvests in France to occur two weeks earlier than in the past. The trend is expected to continue due to increasing temperatures, which can negatively impact wine quality.
A new study published in Global Ecology and Biogeography finds that drought following wildfires hinders forest recovery in the Rocky Mountains. The research shows that forests are not adapting quickly enough to climate change, with subalpine tree species being negatively impacted by warm, dry conditions.
A CU study found that large fires in the West followed by drought conditions are affecting high-elevation forests, leading to lower tree densities and increased patchiness. The research team measured tree species, numbers, sizes, and ages of post-fire seedlings in nearly 200 forest plots.
The University of Missouri team will investigate drought resistance in corn, which could help sustain the estimated 9 billion global population by 2050. The four-year project will build upon years of interdisciplinary research and contribute to increased food security and stability.
A new study reveals that warmer spring temperatures have a significant impact on upper Colorado River flows, reducing them more than previously recognized. This finding has implications for drought management and climate modeling, which suggests that warming temperatures will exacerbate drought conditions in the Western US.
Researchers found Eastern US forests are changing, with drought-sensitive tree species dominating and fire-resistant ones declining. This shift, known as mesophication, makes forests more vulnerable to future climate change and droughts.
A new NASA study reconstructs the Mediterranean's drought history using tree rings, finding that the eastern region has experienced its worst drought in 900 years. The research provides a 'fingerprint' for identifying human-induced climate change contributions and will improve computer models simulating climate change.
Research predicts an earlier start to spring growing season and warmer winter temperatures in North American grasslands, partially offsetting negative effects of higher summer temperatures. Annual productivity is expected to increase despite drought-induced reductions in summer productivity.
Nearly all US forests are vulnerable to future declines due to increasing drought and climate change, according to a new study. The effects have been most pronounced in the West, but Eastern forests are also at risk as tree populations struggle to adapt to changing conditions.
A new study finds that US forests are experiencing severe drought effects, with potentially devastating consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The research highlights the urgent need for better understanding of forest responses to drought and climate change.
A study found that weather patterns typically bringing moisture to the southwestern US are becoming less frequent, leading to a drier climate. The region is already vulnerable to drought, and this shift has significant implications for water resources.
Researchers propose broadening drought definition to include human activities that contribute to extreme water shortages. This shift acknowledges the complex interactions between nature and society, highlighting the need for innovative methodology to analyze causes of drought.
Purdue University researchers engineered rice and Arabidopsis plants to overexpress PYL9 protein, which dramatically increased drought tolerance. The study found that the transgenic plants triggered the death of old leaves, conserving resources for seeds and buds, a survival strategy known as 'die and let live.'
A recent study found that California's drought has severely impacted native ferns in redwood forests, causing permanent dieback and limiting their ability to photosynthesize. The study reveals that these plants can recover quickly after heavy rains but are vulnerable to pests and diseases due to prolonged water stress.
A new study published in Nature found that droughts and extreme heat reduced global cereal harvests by an average of 9-10% between 1964 and 2007. The impact was greatest in North America, Europe, and Australasia, where production levels dropped by 19.9%.
A new study from Carnegie Institution reveals that up to 58 million large trees in California experienced severe canopy water loss between 2011 and today, putting them at risk. The research used advanced tools to measure the impact of the drought on forest canopies and mapped changes in canopy water content.
A recent study found that widespread tree mortality from mountain pine beetles can reduce water availability due to increased evaporation, rather than increasing streamflow. This challenges previous assumptions and offers new insights for managing healthier forests that are more resistant to drought.
Reduced storm activity over mid-latitude regions leads to more persistent heatwaves and droughts, while also increasing the likelihood of record-breaking cold temperatures. This study highlights the sensitivity of regional weather conditions to changes in large-scale atmosphere dynamics.
Two tree species in southwestern Colorado employ distinct strategies to cope with drought: the ponderosa pine conserves water by shutting down production, while the trembling aspen alters its physiology to continue growing. This study sheds light on how woody plants may confront twin scourges of less water and hot weather in a warmer a...
A University of California, Riverside assistant professor will lead a team studying the role of soil in crop water use and response to drought. The research aims to design management strategies based on understanding soil carbon and its microbiome.
Research finds that elevated CO2 reduces stomatal conductance, increasing water use efficiency and delaying physiological responses to drought. This study provides new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying sorghum's resilience to climate change.
A study by the University of Edinburgh found that droughts could kill off the tallest trees in tropical rainforests as breakages in their water transport system lead to death. The research indicates smaller trees are more likely to survive long-term droughts and store less carbon.
A new study predicts that continued deforestation in the Amazon could lead to annual rainfall of less than drought years by 2050. Deforestation rates would need to revert back to pre-2004 levels to achieve this decline, according to researchers.
Researchers sequenced the entire genome of Oropetium thomaeum, a grass species that can regrow after drought. The study provides insights into its drought tolerance mechanisms and could lead to improved crop yields in water-scarce conditions.
The new atlas uses tree rings to map severe droughts and wet periods across Europe, parts of North Africa, and the Middle East over 2,000 years. It fills a major geographic gap in climate data, helping scientists pinpoint causes of drought and extreme rainfall.
Researchers found that anthropogenic warming in the west Pacific likely contributed to the 2014 drought in East Africa. The study used a data set to show that the region is drier than ever, with eight droughts occurring over the past 15 years.
A recent study by University of Montana researchers found a significant increase in global land evapotranspiration over the past 32 years, driven by vegetation greening and rising atmosphere moisture deficits. This trend exacerbates regional drought-induced disturbances, particularly during strong El Nino events.
A new NASA study uses GRACE satellite data to track droughts in Brazil, revealing an average loss of 15 trillion gallons of water per year from 2012 to 2015. The findings show the worst drought in 35 years has desiccated major cities across southeastern Brazil.
Researchers found that rockweed substrate drenches significantly improved postharvest shelf life of petunia and tomato transplants. In contrast, foliar sprays showed no effect on drought tolerance. The study recommends using seaweed extracts as a substrate drench to enhance plant growth.
A new study projects more extreme weather in the Amazon, with frequent and extensive droughts expected to impact forest structure, biomass, and carbon emissions. The region will experience profound implications for the environment, including increased greenhouse gas emissions.
A global review of forest ecosystems found that large trees are more susceptible to drought, releasing stored carbon and disrupting the atmosphere. Understory trees fare better in response to drought, with increased growth rates in some seasonal tropical forests.
A new modeling algorithm helps plant biologists target individual genes controlling stress responses in plants. The tool narrows the field from thousands of genes to fewer than 10, making it easier to understand how to develop drought-resistant crops.
A UC Riverside botanist is studying how trees and shrubs respond to extreme drought in California. He aims to understand which species have survived past droughts and which strategies are most effective.
US fracking operations consume nearly 250 billion gallons of water between 2005 and 2014, which is lower than other energy-related extraction methods. However, in drought-stricken areas, local water shortages could limit future use of hydraulic fracturing.
A new report led by University of Arizona researchers reveals the Sierra Nevada snowpack was at its lowest level in 500 years in 2015, exacerbating California's ongoing drought. The study uses tree-ring data to compare snowpack levels with temperatures, finding a strong correlation between warmer winters and lower snowpack.
A six-year controlled burn experiment in an Amazonian rainforest found that trees can survive initial fire disturbance but not repeated or coupled disturbances. The study highlights the potential for grassland incursion to fuel future burns and reduce forest carbon stocks by up to 90%.
A new study finds that global warming is deepening California's drought by driving moisture from plants and soil into the air. The research estimates that up to a quarter of the drought can be attributed to rising temperatures.
A special issue of Science explores the impact of human-induced environmental changes on forests worldwide. The reviews highlight pressing issues such as forest fires, drought, and extinction, emphasizing the need for sustainable management practices, genetic engineering, and collaborative research.
A new study by Duke University reveals that drought can cause trees to die years after the drought ends, with 72% of affected trees dead within a decade. Thinning out competing trees and monitoring tree growth rates can help prevent this decline.
Researchers discovered unique 'graffiti' on a Chinese cave wall describing drought effects on the local population over 500 years. The inscriptions combined with chemical analysis of stalagmites paint a picture of how societies are affected by droughts over time, pointing to potentially greatly reduced rainfall in the region.
A new UK study predicts that severe droughts could lead to the extinction of six butterfly species by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for climate action. However, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and restoring habitats can greatly improve the chances of drought-sensitive butterflies surviving until at least 2100.
Researchers found reduced tree stem growth after severe drought, contrasting with climate models that assume quick recovery. This study suggests reevaluation of climate-vegetation models to accurately capture drought impacts on the global carbon cycle.
Forest trees take an average of two to four years to recover from droughts, with growth rates slower than expected during the recovery period. The study suggests that Earth's forests can store less carbon than previously calculated, which could lead to a speed-up in climate change.
Native wildflowers in California are losing species diversity after multiple years of drier winters, according to a study. Drought-intolerant species suffered the worst declines, foreshadowing larger-scale extinctions.
UCSB, UC Davis, and PowWow Energy receive $2.3 million in funding to deploy a method to measure groundwater use and provide irrigation best practices for California's major crops such as alfalfa, almonds, pistachios, and tomatoes. The project aims to optimize agricultural water and energy efficiency during drought years.
A recent study reveals that a regulatory gene called NAC016 plays a crucial role in turning off drought-response pathways in plants. This discovery offers new insights into how to develop drought-tolerant crop plants through conventional breeding or biotechnological approaches.
A global study synthesizes data from 1980 to 2014 to better understand how drought affects different legume species and soil conditions. The results show that the magnitude of yield loss varies with legume species and phenological state during drought, while soil texture also plays a role.
A new study suggests that climate change will lead to declines in plant growing days by 2100 due to warming, drought, and limited solar radiation. Tropical regions are expected to face significant reductions in suitable climate ranges, potentially affecting food security and human societies.
A new study finds that climate change will lead to overall declines in plant growing days by 2100 due to warming, drought, and limited solar radiation. The study reveals that tropical regions will face significant reductions in suitable climates for plant growth, with some areas facing up to a 200-day reduction per year.
A study analyzing drought, heat, and insects found that a combination of these factors contributes to over 12 million dead trees in California. Researchers expect this number to rise with climate change.
A study published in Nature reveals that ocean circulation is driving decadal-scale climatic change, with a potential half-degree cooler phase bringing drier summers in Britain and Ireland. The Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO) influences temperature, rainfall, drought, and hurricane frequency worldwide.
Residents and commercial users slashed their water use to 41 gallons per person per day by 2010, thanks to a culture shift among ordinary water users. An integrated water management system was key to Melbourne's success in reducing demand during the drought.
Researchers found that tall trees with low hydraulic conductance are most likely to die from future drought stress, posing a significant threat to earth's carbon storage. This study predicts widespread forest mortality under climate warming, highlighting the need for forest management interventions.
Duke University scientists have discovered a previously unknown dual mechanism that slows peat decay and reduces CO2 emissions from peatlands. The naturally occurring mechanism was found in 5,000-year-old pocosin bogs and may occur in other regions as well.
A recent study on wild baboons reveals that those born during periods of famine have long-term effects on female fertility, making them 60% less likely to become pregnant during food shortages. The findings support the idea that early adversity carries lifelong costs and can lead to poor health as adults.
A new modeling tool predicts that drought-induced forest mortality will occur across the US and Canada by the 2050s due to climate change. The model simulates widespread aspen mortality caused by the 2000-2003 drought, highlighting the importance of understanding tree physiology under water-stressed conditions.
Researchers identified three genes that improve production by about 15 bushels per acre under both irrigated and dryland conditions. The study's results are promising, with potential benefits for Texas farmers who have struggled with low yields in recent years.
Researchers measured growth and photosynthesis rates in Amazonian trees during severe droughts, finding a 10% decrease in photosynthesis rates. This decrease did not affect growth rates but led to increased tree deaths and potential climate change acceleration.
A new study by Stanford scientists links California's recent droughts to rising temperatures, finding that warm and dry conditions are twice as likely to produce severe droughts. Climate change is also expected to increase the frequency of multi-year droughts in the coming decades.
A new study suggests that a record drought in Syria (2006-2010) was likely stoked by ongoing manmade climate change, contributing to the 2011 Syrian uprising. The researchers found that the drought destroyed agriculture and drove dispossessed farmers to cities, exacerbating poverty and government mismanagement.