Climate change is making droughts more intense and frequent, but conifer forests have a trick up their sleeve, airplane and satellite data show.
A new study reveals that these forests can survive dry spells by tapping into deep groundwater sources and reducing water loss through their needles. This strategy helps them maintain their carbon uptake and avoid wildfires, which benefits the whole planet.
The researchers analyzed data from 12 forests across the western United States that experienced severe droughts between 2001 and 2015. They found that the forests maintained their greenness and growth during and after the droughts, indicating that they were resilient to water stress.
The study also showed that the forests reduced their evapotranspiration, or the amount of water vapor they release to the atmosphere, by about 30 percent during droughts. This helped them conserve water and prevent further drying of the soil and air.
The findings suggest that conifer forests have a high capacity to adapt to changing climate conditions and mitigate their effects. However, the researchers warn that this resilience may not last forever, as groundwater sources could become depleted or contaminated, and extreme heat and pests could damage the trees.
The study was published in the journal Science on June 23, 2023.
