The Future Face of the Last Frontier - Boreal Forest Resilience to Global Change

Summary

Climate plays a crucial role in where different natural environments, or biomes, are found around the world. As the climate changes, these biomes may shift to new locations that suit them better. My research focuses on whether boreal forests, the large forests of Siberia, Scandinavia, Alaska and Canada, are moving northward due to climate change and how this shift might affect their important role for global climate. Using satellite data, field observations, and various models, I found that boreal forests are indeed moving north. This shift is likely to continue in the coming decades. However, the rate of change differs between the southern and northern edges of these forests, suggesting they may shrink overall. One factor contributing to this shrinkage is increasing insect outbreaks. A reduction in boreal forests could significantly affect their ability to store carbon, thus affecting their ability to regulate global climate.