Arctic and boreal latitudes are warming faster than any other region on Earth.
Arctic and boreal latitudes are warming faster than any other region on Earth. In three new studies, Earth system scientists at the University of California, Irvine report how the ecosystems in these regions are changing.
In a study published in Global Change Biology, a team led by Earth system science Ph.D. candidate Jinhyuk Kim from the lab of James Randerson, professor of Earth system science, reveals how wildfires are increasing rates of photosynthesis in Canada and Alaska.
They find that increasing wildfires are wiping out black spruce forests that grow relatively slowly and contribute to the organic layer of the underlying soils. In many areas, deciduous shrubs and trees, like willow and aspen, are moving in after a fire. These plants have a much higher metabolism, meaning they can establish themselves faster than spruce.
In 2023, Canada saw its most devastating wildfire season, with over 46 million acres burned. The authors’ work suggests that these fires may accelerate changes in northern forests that are already underway due to climate change.
Read more at University of California - Irvine
Image: Left to right, Hui Wang, Allison Welch and Jinhyuk Kim, graduate students in the UC Irvine Department of Earth System Science, are lead authors on recently published papers discussing the causes and outcomes of accelerated climate warming in Arctic and boreal regions. Credit: Lucas Van Wyk Joel / UCI)
