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Droughts preceding tree mortality events have increased in duration and intensity, especially in dry biomes

Author

Listed:
  • Antonio Gazol

    (Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC))

  • Manuel Pizarro

    (Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC))

  • William M. Hammond

    (University of Florida)

  • Craig D. Allen

    (University of New Mexico)

  • J. Julio Camarero

    (Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (IPE-CSIC))

Abstract

The thresholds of drought duration and intensity required to provoke pulses of tree mortality across Earth’s biomes remain unclear. Using globally-extensive updated databases of drought-associated tree mortality, we report substantial diversity in the types of drought events that cause tree death in different forest types. Tree-killing droughts are longer, more intense and have higher completeness (proportion of extreme drought within long-lasting droughts) in dry versus wet biomes. Mortality-inducing droughts are more intense and show higher completeness in angiosperm-dominated forests. We find a marked tendency towards long-lasting and more severe and complete droughts in recent years, particularly in more arid sites. Warming-amplified aridity is a main factor underpinning these variations. Differences in “sampling effort” across regions make it challenging to characterize the high variability in drought-induced tree mortality events. In this work we demonstrate the need to create, continuously update, and refine more extensive field-based tree mortality monitoring programs globally.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Gazol & Manuel Pizarro & William M. Hammond & Craig D. Allen & J. Julio Camarero, 2025. "Droughts preceding tree mortality events have increased in duration and intensity, especially in dry biomes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-60856-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60856-5
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