Climate Change in Boreal Forests - Research Paper Example

?Climate change in Boreal forests Introduction: Climate change is a serious global issue which has negatively affected the natural eco-systems in various parts of the globe over the years. The shifts occurring in climate is hence highly likely to affect the forest areas as well, due to the change in precipitation conditions, leading to an expansion in some forest areas, particularly those falling within temperate zones; and contraction in certain other areas, such as those witnessed in the Boreal forest regions and the tropical forest regions. The changes are believed to have occurred due to the change in global climate and precipitation levels, over the years. Although it is highly difficult to predict with accuracy, the exact change in forest areas, which can directly be attributed to climate change (Lucier et al., 2009).there are various evidences based on empirical research on the subject and other available literature, which is discussed in the following sections. Research suggests that the factors such as climate change fuelled with unsustainable human activities such as deforestation and extensive land conversions are driving the deterioration of forests and natural habitation worldwide. According to Burton et al (2010) such activities is likely to increase the risk of natural disasters such as forest fires especially in forest areas which have low precipitation and is prone to dryness in the weather as is observed in the Boreal forest range. This paper on climate change seeks to address various issues related to the impact of climate on the Boreal forest range. Climate change in Boreal forests: The conifer-dominated Boreal forest comprises of almost one third of the earth's forest systems covering approximately 1.7 billion hectares stretching across Scandinavia, Alaska, Russia and northern Canada (MNR.org, 2012). Almost two thirds of this forest range is located in the Eurasian region and the remaining one third in the Canadian province and Alaskan region (Hare and Ritchie, 1972). In Canada the boreal forest spans over a region of 290 million hectares and extends from the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest in Ontario to the lowlands in Hudson Bay. The Boreal forest comprises of a vast and varied range of flora and fauna, ranging from larch, pine, spruce to fir, birch, aspen, willow and alder. The overall composition of the boreal forest i.e. the natural vegetation, the soil, and the climate is relatively simple yet its interaction with the external forces as a result of climate change, such as the availability of necessary nutrients, rising temperature, and the ecology of forces has added to the complexity and gravity of the issue (Bonan, 1989; Bonan & Shugart, 1989; Viereck & Schandelmeier, 1980). The uniqueness of the composition of the Boreal forest enables it to sustain in the cold weather and store the large amount of carbon deposits which are held in its organic soils (McGuire et al., 1995; Alexeyev & Birdsey, 1998). The fact that the mean global temperature are on a steady rise and the temperature rise in the Boreal forest region, due to climate change, has been recorded in the upper latitudes in Northern Hemisphere (Serreze et al., 2000). The large scale transformations in the forest management practices, owing to the increase in unsustainable human activities, have resulted in a simultaneous rise in the GHG emissions (Schlamadinger & Marland, 1996). According to researchers, there are various other factors which account to an imbalance in the forest atmosphere which are likely to have a far worse and negative impact on the ecology, as compared to the CO2 emission (Jackson, et al., 2008; Bonan, 2008). These factors arise from the manipulation of the earth’s surface due to human activities, and have the capacity to affect the reflectivity of solar power leading to instant heating up of the atmosphere in and around the area hence ultimately resulting in disturbance and unequal distribution of energy within the climate system (Marland et al., 2003). The following figure shows the change in overall climate in the Boreal forest region: Source: Soja et al., (2006) On the basis of wide amount of literature available on the issue, it can be safely stated that the snow cover reflection and its impact on the global climate and the forest region, are of key significance, since the type of trees found in the snow-covered regions are directly responsible for absorbing the heat and radiation (Randerson et al., 2006; Chapin et al., 2006; Thompson et al., 2009). According to Bonan (2008) it is the biogeophysical processes which have a more significant impact on the climate as compared to the carbon emissions. Hence the pace of carbon emissions in the Boreal forests regions in the short term is more likely to be triggered by rapid albedo changes. According to researchers, afforestation in the Boreal forest systems may in fact result in increased global warming, which can primarily be attributed to the significance of snow-cover albedo in the region (Randerson et al., 2006; McGuire et al., 2006). Hence in order to avoid the negative repercussions of the same, any steps taken by the forest management authorities must ensure that the same is preceded by a comprehensive analysis of impact of such measures on the potential climate change in the area (Jackson et al., 2008). Some researchers state that the measures taken with carbon impact, as the only crucial factor, and completely ignoring the albedo impact, can lead to disastrous result in the Boreal region (Thompson et al., 2009). It has been widely accepted that there is a persistent and significant rise in mean global temperature on account of climate change and that such changes are more likely to have a serious impact on the upper latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, near the Boreal forest region (IPCC, 2001; Serreze et al., 2000). Also, according to the paleoclimate analysis the temperature rise in the 20th century is believed to be one of the largest rises in any century in the past 1000 years (Folland et al., 2001). The prediction of future climate and temperature rise on the basis of this data hence, indicates that the temperature is likely to rise sharply in the Northern Hemisphere. The impact of such temperature rise due to climate change is likely to result in increased warming during summer which is predicted to rise by almost 40% in Boreal regions of Europe as well as Canada, thus resulting in the rise in evapotranspiration in the Boreal region (Stocks et al. 2000). Previous studies focusing on climate change and its impact on the Boreal forest region had predicted that the change in global climate will most likely result in expansion of the Boreal forest region due to the warming in climate and resulting in a simultaneous reduction in the snow-covered land, thus further triggering an albedo-induced warming. Some researchers have also indicated through their studies, that the expansion would most likely take place in the grasslands and temperate forest regions which will expand towards the northern direction while the Boreal forests would most likely be restricted due to the poor quality of its soil, and permafrost thus resulting in a decrease in the Boreal forest region (Smith and Shuggart, 1993; Rizzo and Wilken, 1992). Carbon expansion in the Boreal forest region The Boreal ecology is prone to climate induced changes, which according to several researchers, is responding rapidly to the climate changes than expected. This forest zone is hence highly sensitive to climate change and the same is likely to have a serious impact on the global climate system as a whole. According to available data, and observations made through research the Boreal forest zone are highly likely to influence and trigger wide ranging climate changes by altering the global carbon release and through emissions from fire as well as albedo change. Furthermore it is also responsible for altering and retaining the moisture balance, which may have a significant impact on the climate (Harden et al. 2000; Balzter et al., 2005). Changes since the last ice age: Source: NASA (2012) Source: NASA (2012) There is widespread and credible evidence based on empirical research which indicates that expansion of boreal forest towards the northern latitudes has already commenced and is increasing steadily (Tape, 2004; Sturm et al., 2001), and that indications of climate change are now highly apparent in the interior Alaskan regions which has been experiencing slightly warmer climates ever since the 1950s (Juday et al. 2003). Leading edge and trailing edge move: The boreal forest covers most of the northern American region, are believed to be expanding towards the northern regions due to climate change. Various theories and studies have evolved claiming the growth and expansion of the boreal forests northwards. According to available data the transition between boreal forests and Great lakes towards the north, began during 10,000 BP and continued throughout 7000 BP. This was followed by an extremely warm climate which further leads to an expansion of the Great lakes forest towards the north between the period 7000 and 3000 BP and with the moderation in climate fell back to its original position about 2500 years ago. Various studies conducted over the years have pointed towards a significant contraction of pine tree allocation in the region, which during the cooling trend, expanded greatly in the region (Clark, 1990). Source: NASA (2012) Boreal biome: The current temperature and precipitation rates in a given region play a key role in the formation of biomes. It refers to the presence and composition of land mass i.e. grasslands, or desserts as well as the composition of flora and fauna in the region. Boreal forest region alternatively known as the Taiga, are located across North America and Eurasia. The region receives moderate to ample rainfall, the winters are extremely cold and the summer are generally cool as well. The soil in this region is known to hold large amount of carbon deposits which is expected to warm up due to global warming. Any change in the climate or warming of the atmosphere in this region, hence, would lead to a significant rise in temperature in this region. Likely Current status Source Greenrightnow.com (2010). Status in 2100 Source: IPCC (2012) Conclusion: The changes in Boreal forests and its direct relationship with global warming have been discussed and debated by researchers since several decades. Various experiments conducted in this regard, clearly point to the fact that the Boreal forest range has and still is undergoing changes in the soil composition, flora and fauna, and temperature due to climate change. The fall in temperatures in this forest range, has significantly reduced the speed of decomposition, leading to far-reaching effects such as water logging, ultimately resulting in a series of negative impact in and around the area. Furthermore, the trees commonly found in the region, which are used to a particular type of climate, find it difficult to adapt to the changing climate. The Boreal forests are known to be the world’s largest and arguably the most significant sources of carbon storage. This indicates that these forests have the capacity to store and retain carbon dioxide emitted by industrial development. The absence of these forests is likely to cause a release of CO2 which was previously retained, hence resulting in further environmental pollution. The deterioration of these forests due to climate change would prove to be catastrophic and hence efforts to conserve the same must be made at both - the governmental as well as local level. Climate change is one of the most critical issues faced by mankind in the current century. The gradual and persistent deterioration of natural resources and the damage caused to the ecological reserves due to human activity is unprecedented, and needs to be prevented. Active steps must be taken to ensure conservation of the Boreal forest, and prevent the negative impact of climate change on the flora and fauna, and safeguard the future of human civilizations. References: Alexeyev, V.A., Birdsey, R.A., (1998). 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