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Dynamics of Aboveground Phytomass of the Circumpolar Arctic Tundra During the Past Three DecadesNumerous studies have evaluated the dynamics of Arctic tundra vegetation throughout the past few decades, using remotely sensed proxies of vegetation, such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). While extremely useful, these coarse-scale satellite-derived measurements give us minimal information with regard to how these changes are being expressed on the ground, in terms of tundra structure and function. In this analysis, we used a strong regression model between NDVI and aboveground tundra phytomass, developed from extensive field-harvested measurements of vegetation biomass, to estimate the biomass dynamics of the circumpolar Arctic tundra over the period of continuous satellite records (1982-2010). We found that the southernmost tundra subzones (C-E) dominate the increases in biomass, ranging from 20 to 26%, although there was a high degree of heterogeneity across regions, floristic provinces, and vegetation types. The estimated increase in carbon of the aboveground live vegetation of 0.40 Pg C over the past three decades is substantial, although quite small relative to anthropogenic C emissions. However, a 19.8% average increase in aboveground biomass has major implications for nearly all aspects of tundra ecosystems including hydrology, active layer depths, permafrost regimes, wildlife and human use of Arctic landscapes. While spatially extensive on-the-ground measurements of tundra biomass were conducted in the development of this analysis, validation is still impossible without more repeated, long-term monitoring of Arctic tundra biomass in the field.
Document ID
20140009600
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
doi:10.1088/1748-9326/7/1/015506
Authors
Epstein, Howard E. (Virginia Univ. Charlottesville, VA, United States)
Raynolds, Martha K. (Alaska Univ. Fairbanks, AK, United States)
Walker, Donald A. (Alaska Univ. Fairbanks, AK, United States)
Bhatt, Uma S. (Alaska Univ. Fairbanks, AK, United States)
Tucker, Compton J. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Pinzon, Jorge E. (Science Systems and Applications, Inc. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
July 18, 2014
Publication Date
January 18, 2012
Publication Information
Publication: Environmental Research Letters
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN9307
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG6GE00A
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ARC-0902152
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ARC-0531166
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX09AK56G
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG12HP08C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Arctic tundra
spatial and temporal dynamics
vegetation biomass

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