Warming turns tundra to forest

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2012/120604.html

[font face=Serif][font size=5]Warming turns tundra to forest[/font]

04 Jun 12

In just a few decades shrubs in the Arctic tundra have turned into trees as a result of the warming Arctic climate, creating patches of forest which, if replicated across the tundra, would significantly accelerate global warming.

[font size=3]Scientists from Finland and Oxford University investigated an area of around 100,000 km[font size="1"]²[/font], known as the northwestern Eurasian tundra, stretching from western Siberia to Finland. Surveys of the vegetation, using data from satellite imaging, fieldwork, and expert observations from indigenous reindeer herders, showed that in 8-15% of the area willow (Salix) and alder (Alnus) plants have grown into trees over 2 metres in height in the last 30-40 years.

Previous models assessing the potential impact of forestation have suggested that the advance of forest into Arctic tundra could increase Arctic warming by an extra 1-2 degrees Celsius by the late 21st Century.

A report of the research is published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

'It's a big surprise that these plants are reacting in this way,' said Dr Marc Macias-Fauria of Oxford University’s Department of Zoology and the Oxford Martin School, first author of the paper. 'Previously people had thought that the tundra might be colonised by trees from the boreal forest to the south as the Arctic climate warms, a process that would take centuries. But what we've found is that the shrubs that are already there are transforming into trees in just a few decades.'

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1558

[JDPriestly]

1. I wouldn't call it a forest just yet.

A lot could happen before it is.

A then and now picture might help get the point across.

[Systematic Chaos]

2. There probably aren't enough 'before' pictures of areas that remote.

Just knowing that the shrubs have more than tripled in height on their way to becoming 6-foot-tall trees should be enough of a mental image for most, I'd think.

[NickB79]

4. What could happen to prevent their growth?

All the science is indicating positive feedbacks will dominate for the foreseeable future, which means the Arctic will likely keep warming for the next few centuries at least.

[Kennah]

3. Here are some before and after pics

http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org/pages/glaciers.html

[happyslug]

5. None of your pictures involve Tundra turning to Forest, the issue of this thread

Just pointing out, the previous poster wanted pictures of the TUNDRA before, lets say 1980, and today showing how much the brushes have become trees. That you do not have for your older pictures are mostly of glaciers that have retreated. That is related to want this thread is discussing, but also NOT exactly what is being discussed i.e. your photos relate to Global Warming and its affect on the Arctic, but the issue in this thread is narrower, i.e. How Global Warming is permitting what had been bushes mixed in Tundra, to grow to become full size trees. Before and After Photos of the bushes and trees are what is being requested, not photos of the retreat of the Glaciers.

[Kennah]

6. I don't disagree with you at all

There is a dearth of before and after pics to make it easy for some to see.