Old Trees Overcooked

Rising temperatures are wreaking havoc out West, as trees throughout the region are dying at much faster rates than ever before, scientists say. "Wherever we looked, mortality rates are increasing," said Nathan Stephenson, a coauthor of the relevant study and US Geological Survey research ecologist. According to his research, mortality rates are up over 100% in old-growth forests all over the Western United States and could get worse if the temperature continues to rise. The study is billed as the first of its kind and examined trees at least 200 years old.