Giant trees have no trouble pumping water to top branches

North America Climate Sat, 04 Jul 2026 16:48:57 GMT Moderate confidence — 64/100

The world’s tallest tropical trees have no trouble pumping water to their topmost branches, new research reveals.
Conventional scientific theory suggests that as trees grow, it becomes harder to transport water from roots to leaves – limiting growth and making trees more vulnerable to drought.
But the new study – led by the University of Exeter and Cardiff University and published in the journal Science – finds that adjustments to water transport inside giant Dipterocarp trees “fully compensated” for the challenges of drawing water to the top.

The world’s tallest tropical trees have no trouble pumping water to their topmost branches, new research reveals.
Conventional scientific theory suggests that as trees grow, it becomes harder to transport water from roots to leaves – limiting growth and making trees more vulnerable to drought.
But the new study – led by the University of Exeter and Cardiff University and published in the journal Science – finds that adjustments to water transport inside giant Dipterocarp trees “fully compensated” for the challenges of drawing water to the top.

Sources: Exeter