Climate change response
Arctic tree line not moving as fast as thought, despite climate change
(Carey Restino/The Arctic Sounder, 18 March 2012) -- A study released this month by Cambridge University indicates the advance of the treeline in the Arctic is moving slower than previously predicted. The study, which was released March 17 by Gareth Rees, a researcher with the university’s Scott Polar Research Institute, says the relationship between climate change and tree growth is more complicated than initially thought. “To generalize our results, the tree line is definitely moving north on average but we do not see any evidence for rates as big as 2 kilometers per year anywhere along the Arctic rim,” he said in a news release. “Where we have the most detailed information, our results suggest that a rate of around 100 meters per year is more realistic. In some places, the tree line is actually moving south. The predictions of a loss of 40 percent of the tundra by the end of the century is probably far too alarming.” According to the report, Earth’s surface temperature has risen an average of 1.3 degrees F, but the average is greater in the far north. Rees’ study coordinated experts from across various Arctic nations, primarily in northern Europe. But Canada, Alaska, Russia and Scandinavia also participated. “What we are saying is that when you take the step from a climate model to a vegetation model, we may be doing that in a way that exaggerates what is actually happening,” he said. “Furthermore, the response around the Arctic rim is by no means uniform.”
Posted 19 March 2012; 3:38:15 PM. Permalink
Tagged: Circumpolar News, Climate change and weather, Climate change response, Flora and Fauna, March12, Research
email to: agra...@yukoncollege.yk.ca
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