WHAT THE EVIDENCE SAYS
Researchers integrated satellite, flux-site and climate-model products. Historical analysis for 2001–2015 suggested canopy water moderated ecosystem water-use-efficiency declines by about 18% under atmospheric aridity and 9% under soil drought; late-century simulations projected much weaker atmospheric buffering.
WHY IT MATTERS / OUR READ
Tree-cover persistence may mask diminishing physiological capacity, so ecological resilience assessments should connect canopy function and climate exposure.
CAVEATS / UNCERTAINTY
The late-century decline—including a projected 88% reduction in the modeled buffering function—is scenario- and model-dependent, not measured future dieback or a forest-by-forest forecast.
SOURCE
Water Resources Research — primary remote-sensing and scenario study
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