The research highlights the need for improved disaster prevention strategies in response to droughts and floods on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The team proposed a method for predicting and warning of these events, as well as a technical framework for identifying risk-blocking points and adaptive regulation.
A research team developed a multi-model projection system using the self-calibrating Effective Drought Index to predict drought and recommend cumulative precipitation for recovery. The required rainfall for drought recovery was estimated at 170 mm, 310 mm, and 440 mm for March, April, and May respectively.
A new study found that wildfires and drought have led to a 10% reduction in the value of private timberland in three Pacific states over the past two decades. Climate change is attributed as the primary cause of this damage, with large wildfires causing an additional 8.7% loss.
Researchers studied how 4-year-old tree species respond to extended drought and heat, finding that different species have varying levels of drought tolerance. The study's findings can help shape forest management policy and understand future landscape changes.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure the duration and severity of hydrological droughts in streams and rivers, which can persist for up to 3.5 years after drought conditions end. The study found that baseflow droughts are strongly tied to groundwater levels and can impact water management and ecosystem services.
Recent research reveals that certain soil microorganisms persist and even thrive during drought periods, influencing ecosystem balance and plant growth. A novel method using water vapor measurement indicates that specific bacterial species become more active under simulated future climatic conditions.
Researchers developed an impacts-based thresholds approach to better prepare Ohio farmers for drought conditions. The method takes into account changes in soil moisture, crops, and livestock losses to provide earlier and more accurate notice of approaching droughts.
Research from Fudan University reveals that global droughts exhibit distinct characteristics based on their geographical location, with only 40% of coastal droughts accompanying heatwaves. The study developed a clustering algorithm to analyze drought events and found significant differences in symmetry between inland and coastal types.
A team of researchers from UC Davis has developed a tool that can predict which forests are likely to survive or die after a drought. By analyzing changes in precipitation, soil moisture, and temperature, the tool links these factors to tree growth and carbon reserves.
Research found seven regional hotspots where sudden shifts from drought to heavy rains are becoming more common due to climate change. The study's discovery of land-based feedback loops can help improve predictive climate models and aid communities in preparing for extreme weather conditions.
A new study from Lund University found that secondary forests in Sweden were more affected by the 2018 drought than primary forests. The research team analyzed satellite images and vegetation indexes to compare the impact of drought on both forest types.
Researchers found that prolonged droughts have led to Steamboat Geyser's dry spells by clogging pathways for trees to respire and grow. The team matched tree growth periods to regional climate records, revealing a connection between environmental conditions and reduced water supply.
Researchers found that soil microbes adapt to drought conditions over time and provide benefits to plants when grown together, even without plant signals. This challenges the long-held assumption of co-evolutionary dialogue between plants and microbes.
Researchers at KAUST have isolated a desert microbial strain that enhances drought resilience in Arabidopsis and alfalfa, promoting water use efficiency without affecting crop yields. The microbes modify epigenetic status of drought stress genes and actively change plant root architecture.
Researchers evaluate three drought indices (SPEI, SZI, scPDSI) in the core zone of westerlies-dominated climatic regime. scPDSI is found to be more effective in reproducing drought events and monitoring arid regions due to its sensitivity to potential evapotranspiration changes.
A new study reveals that soil moisture stress has a more significant impact on vegetation growth in Eurasian drylands than atmospheric vapor pressure deficit. The research provides crucial insights for effective ecosystem management and drought mitigation in the region.
A study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln undergraduates found that drought can lower survival odds, slow growth, and even skew the ratio of female-to-male painted turtles. The team discovered a 7% decrease in female survival and a 10% decrease in male survival rates during drought periods.
Researchers at CRAG have discovered a key role for AtMC3, a metacaspase protein located exclusively in phloem tissue, in drought stress response. Increasing AtMC3 levels improves plant survival and photosynthetic capacity under water scarcity conditions, offering a potential tool to fine-tune early drought responses.
A new framework defines super drought as simultaneous extreme droughts at multiple time scales, shedding light on compound dry extremes. A web service has been launched to monitor global super drought events in near-real-time, providing valuable insights for researchers and policymakers.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma predict that global flash droughts will increase globally, with the largest increases projected across North America and Europe. The study finds that flash drought risk over cropland is expected to increase by 1.5 times in North America and 1.7 times in Europe by 2100.
Soil microbiota from stressful environments can enhance tree tolerance to drought, heat, and cold. Diverse microbial communities promote plant resistance to climate stress through various mechanisms.
Research found that drought can increase tree growth in cold, harsh environments due to its impact on energy-limited systems. The study's results provide insights into how different tree species and ecosystems will respond to climate change, particularly in water-limited regions.
Researchers at NCAR create detailed drought forecasts using statistical methods and machine learning, predicting summer drought conditions in 81-94% of cases. The technique can help manage water resources, prevent wildfires, and inform agricultural decisions.
A new study reveals that crops such as corn, sorghum, and millet have evolved by swapping genetic modules between cells to adapt to environmental changes. Researchers identified trends of gene module trading among the species, which may help scientists pinpoint genes controlling drought tolerance.
A five-year field experiment found that nitrogen addition increases biomass recovery but decreases structural recovery after drought, while annual mowing improves both biomass and structural recovery. The study highlights the importance of dominant species and plant functional groups in determining grassland stability under drought.
African-led research sequenced the genome of a drought-resistant bean, paving the way for genetic improvements to promote widespread cultivation. The lablab bean offers nutritional and economic benefits, as well as improved soil fertility, making it an important crop for diversified food systems.
A climate-resilient bean genome unveiled potential to boost food security in drought-prone regions through improved genetic diversity and productivity. The sequencing of the hyacinth bean provides opportunities for targeted breeding to reduce anti-nutritional properties and increase its cultivation.
A new study assesses the Amazon's response to drought, identifying the regions most vulnerable to climate change. Trees in the western and southern parts of the forest are at high risk due to rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns.
Researchers identify critical drought thresholds that impact vegetation growth and nonlinear responses to soil moisture stress. The study reveals two distinct phases of vegetation response, with a well-defined threshold beyond which vegetation becomes vulnerable to drought intensification.
A recent study found that temperature and extreme drought drive movement among herds of Plains bison, posing challenges for managing the iconic species. The team analyzed GPS-backed evidence from 33 Plains bison across two sites in Oklahoma, revealing a strong link between air temperature and bison movement.
Climate change is driving a shift towards more frequent flash droughts worldwide. The study, published in Science, reveals that regions with limited time for preparation are at highest risk. Early warning systems can help mitigate the impacts of these rapid-onset events.
Increased droughts are disrupting soil microbes' ability to capture carbon, threatening plant productivity and greenhouse gas levels. Research suggests that if drought-adapted microbes outcompete carbon-sequestering microbes, it could lead to carbon-depleted soils with severe implications.
A study found that ponderosa pine forests in California's Sierra Nevada will not recover to pre-drought densities, reducing atmospheric carbon storage. The forests' ability to store carbon is threatened by western pine beetle infestations driven by climate change.
Scientists from CSIC and UPV create modified ABA receptor activated by iSB09 molecule, increasing drought tolerance in plants. The combination efficiently activates the ABA pathway, triggering adaptive mechanisms and reducing water loss.
A new study found that droughts and heatwaves exacerbate air pollution inequalities in California, particularly for communities of color. Financial penalties for power plants can significantly reduce people's exposure to pollution, except during severe heat waves.
Researchers have discovered a complex network of genes in the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum that enables it to tolerate extreme drought conditions. The study found that this ability is not due to a single 'miracle gene' but rather the result of a whole genome, with many genes present in higher copy numbers than in more ...
A research team from the USA used hand-held and tower-based equipment for phenotyping common and tepary beans. They assessed physiological and ground- and tower-based hyperspectral remote sensing measurements to evaluate drought response in 12 common bean and 4 tepary bean genotypes across three field campaigns.
A recent study published in New Phytologist has identified a gene that blocks root growth, leading to enhanced drought resistance in plants. Knocking out the RRS1 gene resulted in longer roots and improved water absorption, making it a promising resource for breeding drought-resistant crop varieties.
The study identifies challenges in ensuring crop monitoring data reliability, including the lack of standard categorized methods for assessing crop conditions. A novel method using artificial intelligence and computer vision has been developed to collect field yield data, reducing labor intensity and costs.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have discovered a key to improving drought-resistant wheat plants by stimulating longer root growth. By increasing the copies of specific genes, plants can absorb water from deeper supplies, leading to increased biomass and higher grain yield.
Researchers at the University of Barcelona developed user-friendly and inexpensive methods to detect drought stress in plants, enabling effective monitoring and management. The study presents a range of accessible techniques that can be applied with basic laboratory equipment.
A recent study at Baskett Forest found that forests reach an ecosystem wilting point between 2-4 weeks of extreme drought, requiring soaking rainfall to rejuvenate. This concept explains how whole forests respond to drought and is essential for understanding their dynamics under climate change.
Researchers at Cornell University have found that severe drought, lasting three consecutive years, likely accelerated the collapse of the Hittite Empire in ancient Anatolia. The team analyzed tree ring and isotope records to pinpoint this period of severe dryness, which matches the timeline of the empire's disappearance.
A team of Oregon State University researchers found that widespread tree scorch in the Pacific Northwest during the 2021 heat dome was primarily caused by direct exposure to solar radiation and extreme heat. The study challenges previous hypotheses that linked the damage to drought conditions.
A new review argues that heat and drought have a significant influence on food security and agricultural production, reducing wheat and maize yields by up to 40% worldwide. The study highlights the need for practical solutions and management to address these challenges.
A recent study found that agricultural droughts in Central Asia will continue to worsen due to human-induced warming and natural climate variability. The researchers used ensemble simulations and observations to project future changes in agricultural droughts across the region, indicating a worsening trend in the coming century.
A new UC Riverside-led study reveals that drought-tolerant trees in urban areas use significantly more water than their natural counterparts. The research found that even 'drought-tolerant' species like eucalyptus and ficus increase their water intake when irrigated.
A new study links drought spells to the intensification of raiding activity by Hunnic peoples, who responded to climate stress by adopting new strategies and changing their social organization. The research suggests that extreme drought in the Carpathian Basin contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Scientists developed a first model to predict canopy water content during drought and heat waves. The model could enable fire danger forecasting models that include vegetation in their calculations, making it easier to predict the spread of fires.
A recent study analyzing nearly 22,000 trees across five continents highlights the importance of old-growth trees in withstanding future droughts under climate change. Older hardwood trees exhibit a 21% growth reduction during drought, compared to a 28% reduction experienced by younger hardwood trees.
Researchers analyzed over 20,000 trees on five continents and found that old-growth trees are more resistant to drought, while younger trees in the upper canopy show greater resilience. This study highlights the importance of preserving old-growth forests for carbon storage and ecosystem functioning.
A study by researchers at Boyce Thompson Institute has identified genes that can help plant breeders develop fruit crops that can adapt to drought conditions. The research found that water stress triggers physiological disorders and fruit loss, but also has positive effects such as increasing lycopene levels in ripe fruit.
A four-year experiment combined with a 40-year observation in Inner Mongolia found that previous-year extreme droughts can create strong positive legacies for current-year community productivity. The mechanism driving this effect is the coupled increase of annuals and an early less, middle more precipitation pattern.
Researchers have found that plants maintain drought-resistant vascular arrangements by restricting tissue width, revealing a long-standing riddle in botany. The discovery provides insights into how plants evolved to colonize dry land and has potential applications in securing drought resistance in crop breeding programs.
A long-term study in Southeast Asian seasonally dry tropical forests found that El Niño-induced drought increased seedling mortality. Despite being more drought-tolerant than rainforests, SDTFs experienced higher mortality rates under severe and prolonged drought conditions.
Research by Penn State found that lower-than-normal rainfall in Tanzania is associated with a 13-percentage-point increase in the risk of being food insecure for households. The study's findings suggest potential policy interventions to help agricultural households become more resilient against drought conditions.
Researchers discovered that ABA inhibits stomatal production by phosphorylating the master regulator SPEECHLESS, reducing its levels and leading to decreased stomatal number. This finding could lead to fine-tuning crop plants' drought tolerance through targeted manipulation of the underlying 'code'.
A new study finds that even a modest temperature increase of 1.5°C will spell serious consequences in India, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Brazil, and Egypt, with droughts projected to last longer than two years in some countries. Limiting warming to 1.5°C could greatly benefit all six countries, but meeting the Paris Accords is crucial to r...
Researchers at POSTECH developed a self-calibrating effective drought index to analyze 250 years of drought data, comparing precipitation records from late Joseon dynasty to date. The study found socioeconomic drought impacts hinge on the socioeconomic structure and demonstrated the value of meticulous historical records.
Researchers have discovered a way for plants to adapt to drought by modifying their lignin chemistry, enabling them to grow and thrive in challenging conditions. By understanding the 'chemical code' of lignin, scientists can develop crops and trees that are more resilient to climate change stresses.