Convergent vegetation fog and dew water use in the Namib Desert

A first-of-its-kind study reveals that fog and dew significantly boost soil moisture and plant water status in the Namib Desert, with plants showing stronger responses to fog. Among eight common species, seven benefited from these nonrainfall waters, particularly through foliar uptake by Euclea pseudebenus and Faidherbia albida. The research highlights the critical role of concurrent leaf and soil water potential measurements in understanding desert vegetation's reliance on fog and dew, filling a key gap in dryland ecohydrology. Findings also suggest that night fog may not impact plant water potential, underscoring the importance of timing in these processes.

Wang, L., Kaseke, K. F., Ravi, S., Jiao, W., Mushi, R., Shuuya, T., & Maggs‐Kölling, G. (2019). Convergent vegetation fog and dew water use in the Namib Desert. Ecohydrology, 12(7). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2130