Hurricane Florence Aftermath: Water Stress, Drought, and Mortality in Forest Trees in Eastern North Carolina

Weather and climate are two different things, each of which can greatly influence the health of trees and forests.  Weather (e.g. droughts, floods, ice storms) can have direct and immediate (or rapid) impacts on tree health and growth.  Climate (long-term trends in temperature, precipitation, and more uncertain frequency of weather events) can also impact tree and forest health, and can lead to changes in forest composition.  Invasive species are often greatly influenced by weather and climate as well, and these pose an additional stressor on tree and forest health.