Tropical forests may be approaching a critical high-temperature threshold, a new study suggests.
By Rebecca RicksTrees are reaching, and exceeding, temperatures in which they can no longer function, scientists warn.
"If we don't do more to address climate change, the consequences could be severe," Dr Sophie Fauset said.Researchers said the study demonstrated, for the first time, that a small percentage of tropical leaves are already reaching, and at times exceeding, the temperatures at which they can no longer function.
"We think tropical trees can cope with maybe up to a four degree rise in temperature and beyond that we might start to see temperature-induced mortality which obviously has really big consequences for the forest, biodiversity and for carbon," Dr Fauset, associate professor in terrestrial ecology, told the BBC.Leaf temperatures can often be higher than that of the air but in one extreme example, Dr Fauset said she saw a difference of 18C compared with the ambient temperature.
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