When Nature Gets Thirsty

Abstract

Water is the fountain of life. Without water, nothing grows, including us! But not everything in nature can have all the water it needs, all the time. If plants and animals get too thirsty, they get stressed. When nature dries out, dangerous conditions like droughts and wildfires can happen. It is important for national park managers to understand where and when nature is thirsty. As scientists, we track how much water falls as rain and snow. Then we subtract how much water leaves through rivers, groundwater, and evaporation. The leftover water can be used by plants and animals. We compare how much water plants want to how much water is available, so we can know how thirsty plants are. The hotter it is, the faster water disappears. By knowing when and where nature is thirsty, park managers can take actions to help protect parks.