This study investigates the impact of climate-driven disturbances, such as droughts, fires, and insect outbreaks, on the sensitivity of forest gross primary productivity (GPP) to subsequent water stress in the conterminous United States (CONUS). The research uses long-term remotely sensed GPP data and regression analysis to assess how disturbances alter the sensitivity of GPP to water stress. Key findings include: 1. **Sensitivity Changes After Disturbances**: The sensitivity of GPP to water stress increased significantly after severe droughts and fires but did not change significantly after insect outbreaks. This increase in sensitivity was more pronounced in hot and dry regions. 2. **Land-Cover Type Differences**: Forests generally showed increased sensitivity to water stress after severe disturbances, with deciduous broadleaf forests showing the largest increase. Evergreen needleleaf forests, however, did not change in sensitivity after fires and insect outbreaks. 3. **Drivers of Sensitivity Changes**: Climate factors, particularly soil moisture trends, mean annual temperature, and the interaction between temperature and reversed precipitation, were identified as key drivers of changes in GPP sensitivity to water stress. 4. **Implications for Carbon Uptake**: The increased sensitivity to water stress after disturbances led to significant decreases in carbon uptake, with potential implications for climate change mitigation. Future warming scenarios are expected to further reduce carbon uptake due to increased water stress and vegetation sensitivity. 5. **Management and Policy**: The findings highlight the need for management strategies that address the increased vulnerability of forests to drought and the potential for reduced carbon sequestration. Climate policies and management practices should consider these dynamics to enhance the resilience of forest ecosystems to climate change. The study underscores the importance of understanding and managing climate-driven disturbances to maintain the carbon sink capacity of forests and mitigate climate change.This study investigates the impact of climate-driven disturbances, such as droughts, fires, and insect outbreaks, on the sensitivity of forest gross primary productivity (GPP) to subsequent water stress in the conterminous United States (CONUS). The research uses long-term remotely sensed GPP data and regression analysis to assess how disturbances alter the sensitivity of GPP to water stress. Key findings include: 1. **Sensitivity Changes After Disturbances**: The sensitivity of GPP to water stress increased significantly after severe droughts and fires but did not change significantly after insect outbreaks. This increase in sensitivity was more pronounced in hot and dry regions. 2. **Land-Cover Type Differences**: Forests generally showed increased sensitivity to water stress after severe disturbances, with deciduous broadleaf forests showing the largest increase. Evergreen needleleaf forests, however, did not change in sensitivity after fires and insect outbreaks. 3. **Drivers of Sensitivity Changes**: Climate factors, particularly soil moisture trends, mean annual temperature, and the interaction between temperature and reversed precipitation, were identified as key drivers of changes in GPP sensitivity to water stress. 4. **Implications for Carbon Uptake**: The increased sensitivity to water stress after disturbances led to significant decreases in carbon uptake, with potential implications for climate change mitigation. Future warming scenarios are expected to further reduce carbon uptake due to increased water stress and vegetation sensitivity. 5. **Management and Policy**: The findings highlight the need for management strategies that address the increased vulnerability of forests to drought and the potential for reduced carbon sequestration. Climate policies and management practices should consider these dynamics to enhance the resilience of forest ecosystems to climate change. The study underscores the importance of understanding and managing climate-driven disturbances to maintain the carbon sink capacity of forests and mitigate climate change.