Editor’s Note: Prophet Rick Joyner warns that when you see strange and extreme weather (record breaking highs, lows, floods, droughts, tornadoes, storms), it is a prophetic sign that the Revelation Days are upon us.
A four-year drought has endangered the lives of millions of trees in California, perhaps to the point that even heavy rains may not be able to prevent significant changes to the ecosystem, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the Carnegie Airborne Observatory.
The scientists say about 58 million trees suffered severe drops in their canopy water content, an important statistic in determining a tree’s overall health. In a news release, the researchers say those trees lost enough water over the past four years that they hit levels that were “extremely threatening to long-term forest health,” and any future droughts could spur “substantial changes” to forests — even if a particularly strong El Nino leads to heavy rainfall in California.
“California relies on its forests for water provisioning and carbon storage, as well as timber products, tourism, and recreation, so they are tremendously important ecologically, economically, and culturally,” Greg Anser, who headed Carnegie’s research team, said in a news release. “The drought put the forests in tremendous peril, a situation that may cause long-term changes in ecosystems that could impact animal habitats and biodiversity.”
While 58 million trees reached critical levels, Anser’s team says millions more have lost “measurable” amounts of canopy water. According to a news release, the study indicated about 888 million trees in roughly 41,000 square miles of forest saw their canopy water levels fall.
The research appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It provides a glimpse into the extent of the damage, though California has long been aware there was an issue.
In late October, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced a state of emergency in an attempt to facilitate tree removal. In a news release, the governor’s office said the drought has led to an infestation of bark beetles, who are killing trees weakened by the lack of rain. The release, citing the United States Forest Service, says some 22 million California trees have died.
The dying trees have markedly increased the risk of wildfires, according to Brown’s news release.
