Climate-driven disturbances amplify forest drought sensitivity
Liu, Meng (University of Utah. Wilkes Center on Climate Science and Policy)
Trugman, Anna T. (University of California. Department of Geography)
Peñuelas, Josep (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Anderegg, William R. L. (University of Utah. Wilkes Center on Climate Science and Policy)

Date:	2024
Abstract:	Forests are a major terrestrial carbon sink, but the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-driven disturbances such as droughts, fires and biotic agent outbreaks is threatening carbon uptake and sequestration. Determining how climate-driven disturbances may alter the capacity of forest carbon sinks in a changing climate is crucial. Here we show that the sensitivity of gross primary productivity to subsequent water stress increased significantly after initial drought and fire disturbances in the conterminous United States. Insect outbreak events, however, did not have significant impacts. Hot and dry environments generally exhibited increased sensitivity. Estimated ecosystem productivity and terrestrial carbon uptake decreased markedly with future warming scenarios due to the increased sensitivity to water stress. Our results highlight that intensifying disturbance regimes are likely to further impact forest sustainability and carbon sequestration, increasing potential risks to future terrestrial carbon sinks and climate change mitigation.
Grants:	Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TED2021-132627B-I00
Note:	Altres ajuts: Fundación Ramón Areces grant CIVP20A6621
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Climate-change mitigation ; Forest ecology
Published in:	Nature climate change, (June 2024) , ISSN 1758-6798

DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02022-1

Available from: 2024-12-31 Postprint

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles