How do you cool yourself on a hot day? Perhaps you find shade, switch on a fan or retreat to air conditioning? But spare a thought for tropical forest trees. As the climate warms, they must either adjust to the heat, adapt over generations, or begin a slow decline toward death.
In full sun, tropical leaves can become much hotter than the surrounding air – hot enough to slow – or even stop – the life-sustaining process of photosynthesis.
