Land–atmosphere feedbacks exacerbate concurrent soil drought and atmospheric aridity

Compound extremes such as cooccurring soil drought (low soil moisture) and atmospheric aridity (high vapor pressure deficit) can be disastrous for natural and societal systems. Soil drought and atmospheric aridity are 2 main physiological stressors driving widespread vegetation mortality and reduced terrestrial carbon uptake. Here, we empirically demonstrate that strong negative coupling between soil moisture and vapor pressure deficit occurs globally, indicating high probability of cooccurring soil drought and atmospheric aridity. Using the Global Land Atmosphere Coupling Experiment (GLACE)-CMIP5 experiment, we further show that concurrent soil drought and atmospheric aridity are greatly exacerbated by…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy
• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Awards: NASA 80NSSC17K0265, 80NSSC17K0265, NNH17ZDA00IN-THP
• NS
  Nuclear Safety and Security Commission
• NO
  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  Award: NA17OAR4310127
• LE
  Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University