Warming climate amplifies vapor pressure deficit limits on gross primary productivity.

Key Points

• This research aims to understand how rising vapor pressure deficit (VPD) affects gross primary productivity and carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems.
• Assessed the relationship between vapor pressure deficit and productivity using hydraulic conductivity measurements.
• Evaluated the impacts of rising VPD on carbon storage under controlled warming conditions.
• Increased VPD correlates with significant declines in gross primary productivity (GPP).
• High water potential linked to reduced carbon storage capacity, with a 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity observed.