All articles tagged with #evapotranspiration
A CMIP6-based analysis using a CO2-modified PET framework projects global drylands expanding from about 38.6% of Earth's land today to roughly 39.3–40.3% by 2071–2100, with CO2-driven plant-water-use effects potentially slowing the rise; Australia is expected to see the strongest changes, though outcomes depend on emissions scenarios.
A Princeton-backed study finds that in hot, dry summers vegetation taps groundwater rather than soil moisture, maintaining high evapotranspiration and drawing water away from the Colorado River, thereby reducing basin flows even when snowmelt is abundant. This “drought paradox” suggests climate warming could worsen water shortages and requires revising water budgets and management for the Colorado River basin, impacting states like Arizona and California.
Corn fields in Michigan contribute to local heat and humidity through evapotranspiration, making temperatures feel up to 15 degrees hotter and creating microclimates, although the impact is less severe than in states with larger corn acreage. The upcoming heatwave will push temperatures into the upper 90s and low 100s.
Fungi, including mushrooms, have the ability to cool down by "sweating" away water, according to a new study. Scientists are unsure why fungi might want to stay cool, but the discovery sheds light on a potentially fundamental aspect of fungal biology and may even have implications for human health. Understanding the reason behind this cooling phenomenon in mushrooms and other fungi could help us understand how fungi interact with their environment and other organisms, including humans.