Forest Changes in Alaska Reveal Changing Climate

Forest ecologists watch as Alaskan forests struggle with environmental changes brought on by global warming


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Juday made his remarks at a workshop here sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences' Polar Research Board on climate and ecosystem changes at both poles.

"What we really want to do in this workshop is think about the future," said John Priscu of Montana State University, an expert on the biology of cold climates who is co-chairing the workshop.

That includes the potential for abrupt climate change and the factors amplifying warming in the Arctic, which is warming twice as fast as the global average. The goal of the workshop is to identify gaps in scientists' knowledge, emerging questions in polar science and strategies for future research, Priscu said.

Reprinted from Climatewire with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. www.eenews.net, 202-628-6500


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  1. 1. gunslingor 04:10 PM 8/25/10

    It's all going to $hit. there is very litle hope left. We are in the midst of the largest mass extinction even recorded. And we did it to ourselves and all the other beautiful organisms on this planet. We don't deserve to be here anymore, we don't respect the gifts of god or the luck of evolution.

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  2. 2. Chris G 10:36 AM 8/26/10

    I'm reminded of an earlier article which carried mention of the difficulty of knowing what to plant when what was growing there before is no longer viable.

    http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=charting-a-course-for-the-us-forest-services-response-to-climate-change

    So, what happens if what is viable now is no longer viable by the time it would grow to maturity? Not sure that will happen, but it's a scary possibility.

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  3. 3. Sisko 04:23 PM 8/26/10

    @ chris G-- LOL Your comment seems a bit alarmist. In order for it to be a worry, the climate would have to change within a 6 month timeframe. Climate does not change that fast, only weather does.

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  4. 4. Chris G 05:48 PM 8/29/10

    Sisko,
    Why 6 months? We are talking forests and trees. It takes a bit longer than 6 months for a tree to reach maturity.

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