The urgency of Arctic change

Overland, James E.; Dunlea, E. J.; Box, Jason E.; Corell, Robert W.; Forsius, Martin; Kattsov, Vladimir; Olsen, M. S.; Pawlak, Janet; Reiersen, Lars-Otto; Wang, Muyin

doi:10.1016/j.polar.2018.11.008

Cited by 298 publications

(205 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…Increasing temperatures have already begun to transform the physical, chemical, and biological systems in the arctic (AMAP , 2017). One consequence of this continued warming is the thawing of permafrost across the arctic and subarctic, with model simulations predicting a 20% reduction in permafrost extent by 2040—regardless of changes to global emissions (Overland et al, 2019). From the perspective of the water cycle in the North, permafrost degradation represents a significant physical shift and has been shown to significantly alter the hydrological and hydrogeological characteristics of northern watersheds (Lafrenière & Lamoureux, 2019; Walvoord & Kurylyk, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Conceptual Model for Anticipating the Impact of Landscape Evolution on Groundwater Recharge in Degrading Permafrost Environments

Young

Lemieux

Delottier

et al. 2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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Temperatures in the arctic and subarctic are rising at more than twice the rate of the global average, driving the accelerated thawing of permafrost across the region. The impacts of permafrost degradation have been studied in the discontinuous permafrost zone at Umiujaq, in northern Quebec, Canada, for over 30 years, but the effects of changing land cover on groundwater recharge are not well understood. The water table fluctuation method was used to compute groundwater recharge using 4 years of water level data and soil moisture readings from five field sites characteristic of different stages of permafrost degradation and vegetation invasion. Results indicate that as vegetation grows taller, groundwater recharge increases, likely due to increased snow thickness. Results were then combined with a preexisting conceptual model that describes the evolution from tundra to shrubland and forests to create a new model for describing how groundwater recharge is affected by landscape evolution.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Conceptual Model for Anticipating the Impact of Landscape Evolution on Groundwater Recharge in Degrading Permafrost Environments

Young

Lemieux

Delottier

et al. 2020

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…Environmental conditions within these habitats are also changing and will continue to change, through increased temperatures, rainfall, cloud cover and water content (e.g. Vavrus et al ., 2009; Bintanja and Andry, 2017; Södergren et al ., 2017; Overland et al ., 2019), which may impact the form and function of in situ biological communities. Glacial meltwater exports microbial assemblages (Dubnick et al ., 2017; Cameron et al ., 2017b; Kohler et al ., 2020), sediments (Hudson et al ., 2014; Overeem et al ., 2017) and nutrients (Hawkings et al ., 2015) from glaciers to downstream environments where they have ecological impacts, such as seeding new ecosystems (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacial microbiota are hydrologically connected and temporally variable

Cameron

Müller

Stibal

et al. 2020

Environmental Microbiology

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Summary Glaciers are melting rapidly. The concurrent export of microbial assemblages alongside glacial meltwater is expected to impact the ecology of adjoining ecosystems. Currently, the source of exported assemblages is poorly understood, yet this information may be critical for understanding how current and future glacial melt seasons may influence downstream environments. We report on the connectivity and temporal variability of microbiota sampled from supraglacial, subglacial and periglacial habitats and water bodies within a glacial catchment. Sampled assemblages showed evidence of being biologically connected through hydrological flowpaths, leading to a meltwater system that accumulates prokaryotic biota as it travels downstream. Temporal changes in the connected assemblages were similarly observed. Snow assemblages changed markedly throughout the sample period, likely reflecting changes in the surrounding environment. Changes in supraglacial meltwater assemblages reflected the transition of the glacial surface from snow‐covered to bare‐ice. Marked snowmelt across the surrounding periglacial environment resulted in the flushing of soil assemblages into the riverine system. In contrast, surface ice within the ablation zone and subglacial meltwaters remained relatively stable throughout the sample period. Our results are indicative that changes in snow and ice melt across glacial environments will influence the abundance and diversity of microbial assemblages transported downstream.

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“…Climate change is by far the most serious threat to Arctic ecosystems and biodiversity (CAFF 2013). According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2019), Arctic surface air temperature has increased at more than twice the global rate, doubling over the past two decades (Notz and Stroeve 2016;Richter-Menge et al 2017;Overland et al 2019), with a plethora of effects (Box et al 2019). Climate change will result in physical, ecological, social, and economic impacts, and there is an urgent need to adapt to the expected changes (Pachauri and Reisinger 2007;IPCC 2014;AMAP 2017aAMAP , b, 2018AMAP , 2019.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing a circumpolar programme for the monitoring of Arctic terrestrial biodiversity

Christensen

Barry

Taylor

et al. 2020

Ambio

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The Arctic is undergoing biological and environmental changes, and a coordinated effort to monitor is critical to detect these changes. The Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP) of the Arctic Council biodiversity working group, Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), has developed pan-Arctic biodiversity monitoring plans that aims to improve the ability to detect and report on long-term changes. Whilst introducing this special issue, this paper also presents the making of the terrestrial monitoring plan and discusses how the plan follows the steps required for an adaptive and ecosystem-based monitoring programme. In this article, we discuss how data on key findings can be used to inform circumpolar and global assessments, including the State of the Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity Report, which will be the first terrestrial assessment made by the CBMP. Key findings, advice for future monitoring and lessons learned will be used in planning next steps of pan-Arctic coordinated monitoring.

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The urgency of Arctic change

Cited by 298 publications

References 87 publications

A Conceptual Model for Anticipating the Impact of Landscape Evolution on Groundwater Recharge in Degrading Permafrost Environments

A Conceptual Model for Anticipating the Impact of Landscape Evolution on Groundwater Recharge in Degrading Permafrost Environments

Glacial microbiota are hydrologically connected and temporally variable

Developing a circumpolar programme for the monitoring of Arctic terrestrial biodiversity

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