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Reduced tree growth in the semiarid United States due to asymmetric responses to intensifying precipitation extremes
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Reduced tree growth in the semiarid United States due to asymmetric responses to intensifying precipitation extremes

Matthew P Dannenberg, Erika K Wise and William K Smith
Science advances, Vol.5(10), pp.eaaw0667-eaaw0667
10/2019
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw0667
PMCID: PMC6774733
PMID: 31616781
url
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaw0667View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Earth's hydroclimatic variability is increasing, with changes in the frequency of extreme events that may negatively affect forest ecosystems. We examined possible consequences of changing precipitation variability using tree rings in the conterminous United States. While many growth records showed either little evidence of precipitation limitation or linear relationships to precipitation, growth of some species (particularly those in semiarid regions) responded asymmetrically to precipitation such that tree growth reductions during dry years were greater than, and not compensated by, increases during wet years. The U.S. Southwest, in particular, showed a large increase in precipitation variability, coupled with asymmetric responses of growth to precipitation. Simulations suggested roughly a twofold increase in the probability of large negative growth anomalies across the Southwest resulting solely from 20th century increases in variability of cool-season precipitation. Models project continued increases in precipitation variability, portending future growth reductions across semiarid forests of the western United States.

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