Wind speeds impact ecosystem carbon and water balance

A new study published in Nature Climate Change reveals that stronger winds reduce water-use efficiency in nearly 80% of studied ecosystems. Water-use efficiency is defined as the amount of carbon an ecosystem absorbs per unit of water lost.

Research led by Fu Zheng from the Chinese Academy of Sciences analyzed global monitoring stations covering forests, grasslands, and croplands. Even after accounting for temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, atmospheric aridity, and CO2 concentrations, stronger winds were consistently linked to lower water-use efficiency.

Understanding this balance between carbon absorption and water loss is critical for predicting how ecosystems will respond to climate change.