Widespread shift from ecosystem energy to water limitation with climate change

Abstract Terrestrial ecosystems are essential for food and water security CO 2 uptake. Ecosystem function is dependent on the availability of soil moisture, yet it unclear how climate change will alter moisture limitation vegetation. Here we use an ecosystem index that distinguishes energy limitations in Earth system model simulations to show a widespread regime shift from between 1980 2100. This found both space time. While this mainly related reduction energy-limited regions associated with increasing incoming shortwave radiation, largest towards where radiation increases accompanied by decreases. We therefore demonstrate stronger than implied individual trends terrestrial evaporation, important implications future services.