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Increasing shrub abundance in the Arctic

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew Sturm

    (US Army Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory–Alaska)

  • Charles Racine

    (US Army Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory)

  • Kenneth Tape

    (Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska–Fairbanks)

Abstract

The warming of the Alaskan Arctic during the past 150 years1 has accelerated over the last three decades2 and is expected to increase vegetation productivity in tundra if shrubs become more abundant3,4; indeed, this transition may already be under way according to local plot studies5 and remote sensing6. Here we present evidence for a widespread increase in shrub abundance over more than 320 km2 of Arctic landscape during the past 50 years, based on a comparison of historic and modern aerial photographs. This expansion will alter the partitioning of energy in summer7 and the trapping and distribution of snow in winter8, as well as increasing the amount of carbon stored in a region that is believed to be a net source of carbon dioxide9.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Sturm & Charles Racine & Kenneth Tape, 2001. "Increasing shrub abundance in the Arctic," Nature, Nature, vol. 411(6837), pages 546-547, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:411:y:2001:i:6837:d:10.1038_35079180
    DOI: 10.1038/35079180
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    Cited by:

    1. F. Nelson & O. Anisimov & N. Shiklomanov, 2002. "Climate Change and Hazard Zonation in the Circum-Arctic Permafrost Regions," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 26(3), pages 203-225, July.
    2. Joshua Kellogg & Clyde Higgs & Mary Ann Lila, 2011. "Prospects for Commercialisation of an Alaska Native Wild Resource as a Commodity Crop," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 20(1), pages 77-101, March.

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