Redwoods Drink Water from the Air

The redwood trees of California (Sequoia sempervirens) survive dry summers by drinking through their leaves (a process called foliar water uptake). The trees grow specialized axial shoots with leaves that pull moisture from the air—a particular advantage in the heavy fog of their coastal locations.

Ecologists studying the redwoods took twig samples from trees in various climate zones. In the lab, they created fog using a humidifier and measured how much water the redwoods’ leafy shoots could absorb. They estimated that a tall redwood can absorb up to 13 gallons of water within an hour of getting wet.

From the tallest tree to the smallest insect, God has perfectly equipped his creation with everything needed to survive—including some creative ways like drinking water from the air.

This article is from Answers magazine, October–December, 2022, p. 19.