Global Warming Affecting Boreal Forests In Alaska

Evidence in the boreal forests of Alaska prove that climate change because of global warming are transforming many of the trees, such as the white spruces and birch trees. Ecologist Glenn Juday says, " A biome shift is now occurring. You don’t have to wait for the effects. They’re happening." Studies show that the white spruce, for example, need at least 11 inches of precipitation per year and the temperature needs to be, roughly, about 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If this temperature rises another 10 degrees, for instance, the trees won’t be able to survive. Even though the precipitation has been around 11 inches per year, the temperature has exceeded over 60 degrees, in the last couple of decades. Juday states that these trees are, "...probably not viable on a long-term basis under such conditions, with each additional degree of warming, their growth goes down." Also, this specific region is drying up. The growing season in 2007 was 50% longer than it was in 1905. The birch trees are also having a similar problem. The birch trees are showing symptoms of leaf scorch, which is the last symptom before the death of a tree. Researchers believe that the result of the 2004-2005 drought, which was then followed by root dieback, and then followed by a warm 2007, is what is making the population of the birch trees go down. The affects are that there has been a shorter period for snow to accumulate in winter and a bigger gap between the snow melting and the summer rains, two factors that work together to produce more intense dry climate.

This is related to science because it has to do with global warming. Global warming is something that is happening before our eyes and scientists, especially, must find a way to try to stop global warming. With our help, scientists can achieve this and save our planet– before it is too late.

We, also, have to care deeply about this topic. On th internet, on the news, and even on the newspapers, global warming has been an important topic. We must know how we can help to save our planet, even if its just recycling, turning off the lights when not in use, etc, this is a BIG help to the planet. If we want our descendants to be able to live in a healthy Earth years from now, we must know how to protect it and save it now.

Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=forest-changes-in-alaska-reveal-changing-climate