The death rates of Australia’s tropical trees have doubled in the last 35 years, a trend consistent across the diversity of species, with trees living around half as long. Global warming increases the drying power of the atmosphere. As the atmosphere warms, it draws more moisture from plants, resulting in increased water stress in trees and ultimately increased risk of death. This suggests similar rises in tree death rates may be occurring across the world’s tropical forests. If that is the case, they may soon become carbon sources.
Story Source: University of Oxford
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220518113837.htm