Extreme Short-Term Droughts Cause Greater Damage to Grasslands and Shrublands Than Previously Estimated

Global Study Reveals Increased Vulnerability of Key Ecosystems to Climate Change, with Potential Droughts Occurring More Frequently

Extreme short-term droughts have a greater impact on grasslands and shrublands than previously estimated, with a single 1-in-100-year drought event causing a 60% greater loss in plant growth.
The study, led by Colorado State University, used a global experiment across six continents to generate a baseline understanding of potential losses in these ecosystems, which cover between 30% and 40% of the globe.
Drier and less diverse sites are likely to be the most vulnerable to extreme droughts, but severity of the drought was the most consistent and important factor in determining an ecosystem's response.
Grasslands and shrublands are key ecosystems that store more than 30% of the global stock of carbon and support industries such as livestock production.
The findings suggest that as Earth's climate continues to change, short-term droughts that are statistically extreme in intensity will become more common, potentially happening every two to five years.