The way trees sway may communicate water stress

The Western U.S. is experiencing periods of increasingly intense drought, and higher temperatures are exacerbating the issue by drawing even more moisture from plants and soils into the atmosphere. The results can be seen in the ever-expanding wildfire footprint, with many of the region's largest recorded wildfires occurring over the past decade. One DRI scientist is innovating a new way to monitor water stress in trees—one that may help monitor wildfire risk across the region.