Mongolian pine plantations in Northern China were studied to understand how they use water and regulate gas exchange. The researchers looked at mature, half-mature, and young forests to see how they transpire water and control stomatal conductance. They found that the amount of water released by the trees was influenced by factors like temperature, sunlight, and soil moisture. Stomatal conductance had a big impact on water loss, with older forests being more sensitive to environmental changes. This information can help with planning tree planting in dry regions and predicting how these forests might respond to severe droughts.