Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Science

'Mismatched' plant water isotopes vanish with better sampling: Study points to better drought forecasts

For decades, scientists have relied on a chemical fingerprint inside water molecules to determine where plants get their moisture. The method shaped our understanding of drought resilience, groundwater use, and ecosystem survival. But there was a problem. The fingerprints didn't always match.

'Mismatched' plant water isotopes vanish with better sampling: Study points to better drought forecasts
Image: Phys.org
For decades, scientists have relied on a chemical fingerprint inside water molecules to determine where plants get their moisture. The method shaped our understanding of drought resilience, groundwater use, and ecosystem survival. But there was a problem. The fingerprints didn't always match.

Originally published at Phys.org

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