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. 2013 Aug 2:4:266.
doi: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00266. eCollection 2013.

The critical amplifying role of increasing atmospheric moisture demand on tree mortality and associated regional die-off

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The critical amplifying role of increasing atmospheric moisture demand on tree mortality and associated regional die-off

David D Breshears et al. Front Plant Sci. .
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A conceptual figure illustrating the effect of increased VPD on the biophysical factors that influence tree physiology, drought stress, and survival. Higher temperatures increase VPD non-linearly (A), higher VPD will generally both deplete soil moisture (B) and increase plant stress though changes in transpiration [C; based on data from Eamus et al. (2008)], all of which are projected to contribute to non-linear increases in forest stress [highlighted by the Forest Drought Severity Index (FDSI), with more negative values corresponding to increased stress] and resultant widespread regional mortality (D; Williams et al., 2013).

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