Drought kills trees faster than previously thought

When trees die in drought conditions, the underlying cause is a rapid collapse in the hydraulic system, according to a new study from the University of Basel. The research suggests that trees die of thirst more quickly than previously realized.  The extreme summer heatwave of 2018 was devastating for some forests, but also presented the experts with an opportunity to closely monitor the response of individual trees. The previous year, a team led by Professor Ansgar Kahmen had already set up a research area in Hölstein, …