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A global overview of drought and heat-induced tree mortality reveals emerging climate change risks for forests

Craig D. Allen, Alison K. Macalady, Haroun Chenchouni, Dominique M. Bachelet, Nate G. McDowell, Michel Vennetier, Thomas Kitzberger, Andreas Rigling, David D. Breshears, Edward H. Hogg, Patrick Gonzalez, Roderick J. Fensham, Zhen Zhang, Jorge Castro, Natalia Demidova, Jong-Hwan Lim, Gillian Allard, Steven W. Running, Akkin Semerci, Neil S. Cobb
Summary - what did the authors do and why?

This article was a review of literature regarding tree mortality due to water stress and increased temperatures as a result of climate change in forests around the world.

Publication findings:

Climate-induced stress leading to increased tree mortality interacts with disturbance such as fire further exacerbating mortality. There is uncertainty how future climate change may affect this feedback loop between physiological stress and fire disturbance.

Climate and Fire Linkages

How does drought relate to annual area burned and fire size?

Climate-induced stress leading to increased tree mortality interacts with disturbance such as fire further exacerbating mortality. There is uncertainty how future climate change may affect this feedback loop between physiological stress and fire disturbance.

Fire and Ecosystem Effects Linkages

How do annual area burned and fire size relate to tree mortality, survivorship, and turnover?

Climate-induced stress leading to increased tree mortality interacts with disturbance such as fire further exacerbating mortality. There is uncertainty how future climate change may affect this feedback loop between physiological stress and fire disturbance.