Showing papers in "Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research in 2020"
TL;DR: In 2010 and 2012, the length of Petermann Glacier's ice tongue was reduced by c. 25 km, allowing exploration of newly uncovered seafloor during the 20th century as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Calving events of Petermann Glacier, northwest Greenland, in 2010 and 2012 reduced the length of its ice tongue by c. 25 km, allowing exploration of newly uncovered seafloor during the Petermann 20...
19 citations
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that the distribution of shrubs and lichen heaths in alpine and arctic areas can have a large impact on the surface albedo of these areas.
Abstract: Lichen heaths are declining in abundance while shrubs are increasing their range in alpine and arctic areas due to climate change. This can have a large impact on the surface albedo of these areas....
18 citations
Montana State University1, Department of Planning and Environment2, ETH Zurich3, University of Hawaii at Manoa4, University of Vienna5, Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg6, University of Picardie Jules Verne7, Research Institute for Nature and Forest8, National University of Comahue9, University of Concepción10, Environment Agency11
TL;DR: Extreme abiotic conditions, geographic isolation, and low levels of disturbance have historically provided alpine, Arctic, and Antarctic regions with low input of and relative resistance to the intolerant environment as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Extreme abiotic conditions, geographic isolation, and low levels of disturbance have historically provided alpine, Arctic, and Antarctic regions with low input of and relative resistance to the int...
15 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the identification of mountain permafrost, particularly in the discontinus of discontinuities, has been studied in high-latitudes and in high mountain areas.
Abstract: Permafrost plays an important role in numerous environmental processes at high latitudes and in high mountain areas. The identification of mountain permafrost, particularly in the discontin...
13 citations
TL;DR: This article used open-top chambers to artificially warm two different plant communities in Tibet and found that the predicted warming in Tibetan Plateau may have profound effects on plant community structure and function.
Abstract: Predicted warming in Tibetan Plateau may have profound effects on plant community structure and function. We used open-top chambers to artificially warm two different plant communities in Tibet fro...
13 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a multi-year study of forest-to-alpine ecotones across extensive krummholz zones in whitebark pine (WBP; Pinus albicaulis), Sierra Nevada, California, resolved mean treeline growing season temperatu...
Abstract: A multiyear study of forest-to-alpine ecotones across extensive krummholz zones in whitebark pine (WBP; Pinus albicaulis), Sierra Nevada, California, resolved mean treeline growing season temperatu...
12 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, climate change in arctic tundra is projected to affect air temperature, snow depth, soil fertility, and caribou herbivory, which may alter plant community composition by shifting niche space to fav...
Abstract: Climate change in arctic tundra is projected to affect air temperature, snow depth, soil fertility, and caribou herbivory, which may alter plant community composition by shifting niche space to fav...
10 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review and test an ecological paradigm that asserts that alpine invertebrate communities may shift upslope with climate warming and show that the model couples the end-summer snow line (EOSS) elevation with climate change.
Abstract: We review and test an ecological paradigm that asserts that alpine invertebrate communities may shift upslope with climate warming. Our model couples the end of summer snow line (EOSS) elevation wi...
9 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the driving parameters of planktic diatom assemblage in the mountain lakes of the northern European Alps have been studied sparsely so far, and the authors propose a method to fill this knowledge gap.
Abstract: Planktic diatom ecology in the mountain lakes of the northern European Alps has only been studied sparsely so far. To fill this knowledge gap, the driving parameters of planktic diatom assemblage c...
8 citations
TL;DR: In this article, warmer air temperature and spatio-temporal changes in the amount and patterns of precipitation have been observed at high latitudes over the past decades, and such interannual variability in climatic c...
Abstract: Over the past decades, warmer air temperature and spatiotemporal changes in the amount and patterns of precipitation have been observed at high latitudes. Such interannual variability in climatic c...
7 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that herbivore impacts in the Arctic are dependent on both the plant community and Herbivore identity (size), and on competition for P with the microbial community.
Abstract: Herbivores can play an important role in determining arctic ecosystem function with effects determined in part by herbivore identity. We examined the impact of long-term (twenty-two years) small an...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present approximately 200 years of change in the history of mountain glacier growth and shrinkage, and show that glaciers are important indicators of climate change, and recent observations worldwide document increasing rates of mountain glaciers recession.
Abstract: Glaciers are important indicators of climate change, and recent observations worldwide document increasing rates of mountain glacier recession. Here we present approximately 200 years of change in ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the timing of spring green-up in arctic and alpine systems is predominantly controlled by temperature and snow-melt timing preceding and during the growing season.
Abstract: Spring green-up in arctic and alpine systems is predominantly controlled by temperature and snowmelt timing preceding and during the growing season. Variation in the timing of green-up across space...
TL;DR: In recently deglaciated soils, microbial organisms drive soil transformations by increasing carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools while depleting available phosphorous (P), thus improving plant coloniz...
Abstract: In recently deglaciated soils, microbial organisms drive soil transformations by increasing carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools while depleting available phosphorous (P), thus improving plant coloniz...
TL;DR: In this article, the causes of tree leaning on continuous permafrost remain unclear, however, it is known that black spruce trees lean to form a "drunken" forest on degrading perma-frost.
Abstract: Black spruce trees lean to form “drunken” forest on degrading permafrost; however, the causes of tree leaning on continuous permafrost remain unclear. Leaning events are recorded by reaction wood f...
TL;DR: In this paper, the scale dependent observations of diversity in alpine vegetation appear to be scale dependent, and the relations of plant species richness with surface processes and geomorphology have been studied.
Abstract: Observations of diversity in alpine vegetation appear to be scale dependent. The relations of plant species richness with surface processes and geomorphology have been studied, but patterns of beta...
TL;DR: In this paper, climate change and associated permafrost thaw are creating new shallow waterbodies in vast regions of the circumpolar Arctic and these thaw ponds are characterized by high concentrations of colored di...
Abstract: Climate change and associated permafrost thaw are creating new shallow waterbodies in vast regions of the circumpolar Arctic. These thaw ponds are characterized by high concentrations of colored di...
TL;DR: Venezuela will soon become the first Andean country to lose all of its glaciers, as the "eternal snows" of the Sierra Nevada de Merida (SNM) disappear.
Abstract: Venezuela will soon become the first Andean country to lose all of its glaciers, as the “eternal snows” of the Sierra Nevada de Merida (SNM) disappear. Although documentation of glacier retreat in ...
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of climate warming and earlier snowmelt on mountain regions are examined. But, few studies have examined the effects on the quality of the ice cover in mountain regions.
Abstract: Mountain regions are experiencing some of the highest air temperature increases and ice cover decreases. However, few studies have examined the effects of climate warming and earlier snowmelt on mo...
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of snow accumulati cation in glacier surges is investigated and links between climate and glacier surges are poorly understood but are required to enable prediction of surges and mitigation of associated hazards.
Abstract: Links between climate and glacier surges are poorly understood but are required to enable prediction of surges and mitigation of associated hazards. Here, we investigate the role of snow accumulati...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that aquatic habitat connectivity is susceptible to change due to climate change, and that aquatic habitats support life history requirements of many arctic fish species during periods of flowing water.
Abstract: Habitat connectivity supports life history requirements of many arctic fish species during periods of flowing water. However, aquatic habitat connectivity is susceptible to change due to climate fa...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors studied the impact on streamflow of changes in precipitation in alpine regions and found that snowmelt supports hydroelectric power generation, water supply, and agricultural production.
Abstract: Snowmelt in alpine regions supports hydroelectric power generation, water supply, and agricultural production. These regions are warming, and the impact on streamflow of changes in precipitation an...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied the change in the mass balance of the Dongkemad glacier due to climate change and found that mass balance change is among the best indicators of glacier response to climate changes.
Abstract: Glacier mass balance change is among the best indicators of glacier response to climate change. Due to its inaccessibility and limited observation, little is known about the change to the Dongkemad...
TL;DR: In this paper, climate warming is affecting terrestrial ecosystems in the Canadian Arctic, potentially altering the carbon balance of the landscape and contributing additional CO2 to the atmosphere, and high spatial spatial...
Abstract: Climate warming is affecting terrestrial ecosystems in the Canadian Arctic, potentially altering the carbon balance of the landscape and contributing additional CO2 to the atmosphere. High spatial ...
TL;DR: Mushrooms and other fleshy fungi are important components of arctic and alpine habitats where they enhance nutrient uptake in plants and replenish poor soils through decomposition as mentioned in this paper. But they are difficult to find in the wild.
Abstract: Mushrooms and other fleshy fungi are important components of arctic and alpine habitats where they enhance nutrient uptake in plants and replenish poor soils through decomposition. Here we assemble...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors derived the elevation gradient of near-surface ground temperatures and derived the dependence of air temperature on elevation in the mountains, and showed that the dependence is well known.
Abstract: The dependence of air temperature on elevation (i.e., its elevational gradient) in the mountains is well known. However, the elevational gradient of near-surface ground temperatures and derived the...
TL;DR: In this article, the physical and geochemical characteristics of shallow ice cores from the Western Cwm of the Khumbu Glacier in the Nepal Himalayas were analyzed, and two ice cores fr...
Abstract: The physical and geochemical characteristics of shallow ice cores drilled in the accumulation area (Western Cwm) of Khumbu Glacier in the Nepal Himalayas in 1980 were analyzed. The two ice cores fr...
TL;DR: This paper assessed the response of Salix richardsonii, a deciduous shrub, to climate change by determining the combination of climatic factors that regulated its growth over the past half-century.
Abstract: We assessed the response of Salix richardsonii, a deciduous shrub, to climate change by determining the combination of climatic factors that regulated its growth over the past half-century. We test...
TL;DR: In this article, the mass and movement of persistent organic pollutants are tracked for assessing environmental health for human and wild animals, and the authors propose a method to track the mass of these pollutants.
Abstract: Persistent organic pollutants are stored in environmental reservoirs globally. Tracking the mass and movement of these pollutants is critical for assessing environmental health for human and wildli...
TL;DR: Overall, it was found that the integrity scores for the Matanuska–Susitna basin were high compared to the conterminous United States, and culvert remediation had a larger proportional impact in catchments with fewer stressors.
Abstract: The Matanuska–Susitna Borough is the fastest growing region in the State of Alaska and is impacted by a number of human activities. We conducted a multiscale assessment of the stressors facing the ...