Giant Redwoods May Dry Out; Warming to Blame?
Some of the planet's tallest and longest-lived trees may be harmed by declining fog cover on California's coast, a new study suggests.
For the new study, scientists measured the cloud ceiling—the height of the lowest level of Earth's cloud layer—at two area airports, as well as examined a long-term record of daily maximum temperatures in the region. The research revealed that fog was 33 percent more common a century ago than it is today.
Because redwoods are limited to a narrow, humid band along California's coastline, the trees aren't adapted to long, dry spells, which could kill them, scientists say.
(Related: "Ancient Ginkgoes, Redwoods Threatened in China.")
Most other California tree species that are adapted to drought are efficient at holding onto water,
"So when they get into a dry summer, they're pretty good at closing
