Treelines—the highest elevations where trees can grow—are shifting upward as the climate warms. Using nearly 40 years of satellite imagery, we analyzed treeline movement across 115 high mountain peaks from Canada to Central America. We found that treeline shifts are not uniform and are most pronounced in tropical regions, where few studies have been conducted. These results highlight the need for more research in these areas to better understand how climate change reshapes mountain ecosystems.

This research provides a comprehensive census on water volume change for the lakes greater than or equal to 1 km² in the EBTP from 1989–2019 using Landsat imagery and digital elevation data. Our annual dataset, compared with satellite altimetry and other existing data, covers more lakes, especially small lakes in 1–10 km², and longer time period. The dataset is valuable in studying the impacts of climate change and water balance in the region.