Increased droughts will reduce southern Spain’s olive oil output by 30% before the end of the century.
plants
Early Sprouting of Leaves Enhances Northern Hemisphere Warming
As leaf out has been advancing 4–5 days per decade, scientists say the effect of vegetation on climate remains poorly understood.
New England Forests Were Historically Shaped by Climate, Not People
A first-of-its-kind study combining paleoecology and archeology indicates that the New England landscape was not actively managed with fire prior to European arrival.
Wildfire Smoke Boosts Photosynthetic Efficiency
Wildfires can destroy large tracts of vegetation. But their smoke plumes may help crops and other plants use sunlight more efficiently.
The Give and Take of Mercury in Glacial Landscapes
As glacial ice melts, toxic mercury is released into the environment. But a new study shows vegetation may be an effective cleanup crew.
Iconic Palms Add to Fire Danger in Southern California
As fires burn across Southern California, researchers examine what role nonnative vegetation plays.
Integrating Global Seagrass and Mangrove Ecosystem Observations
Coordinating the Implementation of Mangrove and Seagrass Essential Observations: A joint GOOS/MBON community outreach workshop to implement EOV/EBVs (Sea Plants Workshop), Consortium for Ocean Leadership; Washington, D.C., 10–11 June 2019
The Bigger They Are, the Harder They Fall
New research tracking 1.8 million trees found that tall trees died at more than twice the rate of smaller ones toward the end of extreme and persistent drought.
Foretelling Forest Death from Above
A satellite-based early-warning signal may spot the start of a forest’s decline and give forest managers more time to save its life.
600 Years of Grape Harvests Document 20th Century Climate Change
A 664-year record of grape harvest dates from Burgundy, France, reveals significantly warmer temperatures since 1988.