Climate science

Interesting finding. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and emit water vapor through the same points--the stomata. One effect of a higher-carbon atmosphere, though, is that the stomata clog up, making it a bit more difficult for a plant to regurgitate the water it absorbs through its roots into the atmosphere. This is mitigative in some senses, but dangerous in others.

"It's a double-edged sword," said Dr Betts, "it means that increases in drought due to climate change could be less severe as plants lose less water.

"On the other hand, if the land is saturated more often, you might expect that intense rainfall events are more likely to cause flooding."

At the same time, as temperatures rise globally, it will render ever more parcels of land around the world inarable. Which is to say that if climate change gets too out of control, it will render this cute little phenomenon largely moot.