Drought occurence
This article is part of a larger document. View the larger document here.Abstract
Why Is Drought Important? Drought is an important forest disturbance that occurs regularly in the Western United States and irregularly in the Eastern United States (Dale and others 2001). Moderate drought stress tends to slow plant growth while severe
drought stress can also reduce photosynthesis (Kareiva and others 1993). Drought can also interact with other disturbances, such as fire, insects, and diseases, that may lead to tree mortality and can exacerbate ecosystem stress.