Dieback hits Tasmanian forests after dry summer as researchers investigate impact on trees' future

Huge patches of forest in Tasmania have rapidly turned brown over recent months, with many trees dying after a dry summer. "When the water comes under too much tension, that system breaks and the xylem water snaps," Professor Brodribb said. "It's an extraordinary example of coordinated and continuous regulation as these little valves are just constantly maintaining the plant in a safe place," Professor Brodribb said. The work Professor Brodribb is doing to understand how much water a tree can lose before it dies is useful for researchers who want to model how climate change may drive dieback, according to Western Sydney University professor Brendan Choat, who also studies dieback. "When you think about the weight of a column of 100 metres of water … that's a major feat," Professor Brodribb said.