Climate change increases risks of tree death

It seems like planting a tree is good for the environment. Some of the emissions that contribute to climate change can be offset by trees.

If trees burn up in a forest fire, the carbon in them could be thrown back into the atmosphere. If trees die due to insect damage, they stop scrubbing carbon dioxide from the air.

According to new research in Ecology Letters, the likelihood of threats impacting forests is increasing nationwide, making relying on forests to soak up carbon emissions much riskier.

William Anderegg, study lead author and associate professor in the University of Utah School of Biological Sciences, says that the U.S. forests could look dramatically different by the end of the century. We are likely to lose some forests in the Western U.S. due to climate change, but much of this depends on how quickly we tackle it.

There is a wildfire, a drought and insects.

The risk of tree death from fire, climate stress, and insect damage could increase over the course of the 21st century.

You can see their findings in an interactive map.

Depending on different carbon emissions scenarios, the United States forest fire risks may increase by between four and 14 times by 2099. The risks of climate stress-related tree death and insect mortality may double over the same time.

Reducing the severity of climate change dramatically reduced the fire, drought and insect-driven forest die-off.

Climate change is going to cause more fires in the U.S., Anderegg says. The western U.S. is expected to be hit hardest by all three of these. They are somewhat connected as well. Climate change tends to cause a lot of fires, tree mortality and insect outbreaks in hot and dry years. We also have an opportunity here. Climate change can help keep our forests and landscapes healthy.

More information: Future climate risks from stress, insects and fire across US forests, Ecology Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1111/ele.14018 Journal information: Ecology Letters Citation: Climate change increases risks of tree death (2022, May 12) retrieved 12 May 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-05-climate-tree-death.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.