The Upper Forest Limit in the Mountains of the Boreal Zone of the USSR

Gorchakovsky, P. L.; Shiyatov, S. G.

doi:10.2307/1550767

Cited by 42 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…Enhanced tree line forest growth result concluded in this study is in agreement with previous research that all found that climate warming during the 20th century had pushed the tree line higher along altitudinal and latitudinal gradients in Russia (Gorchakovsky and Shiyatov 1978), Finland (Hustich 1958), Sweden (Kullman 1990), Canada (Danby 2007), and Norway (Aas 1969 (Pears 1968). Based on this ratio, a 0.6uC temperature increment in the last century and the expected future 1-5uC warming will likely move tree line 140-700 m higher (Grace et al 2002).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Can Landsat imagery detect tree line dynamics?

Zhang

Adams³

et al. 2009

International Journal of Remote Sensing

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Prior research on tree line dynamics has primarily been based on field inventory data, and little is known about the potential for using remotely sensed imagery to detect change. The present study developed a new methodology by combining remote sensing and field survey data to examine dynamics of the pristine forest in the tree line area on Changbai Mountain in Northeast China over the past two decades. The new method normalized remote sensing data by using the adjacent old-growth coniferous forest (close to climax) below the tree line as the reference (assuming steady state) to eliminate various potential errors associated with different satellite sensors, atmospheric conditions and seasonal vegetation changes. Specifically, we used a ratio of normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) between the tree line forest (birch) and the referenced old-growth coniferous forest, as well as a ratio between the interface forest against the referenced coniferous forest, to investigate growth dynamics of the tree line forest from 1977 to 1999. The interface forest is distributed between the tree line forest and non-forest zone. Compared with traditional methods using remote sensing data, the new method has higher sensitivity to tree line dynamics. We found that the tree line delineated from satellite imagery had shown no shift in the past decades. However, the NDVI ratio of tree line forest against the reference forest increased from 0.9 to 1.2 from 1977 to 1999, and the ratio of interface forest against the reference forest increased from 0.83 to 0.98, indicating that growth of the tree line forest apparently exceeded that of the reference coniferous forest and had grown denser. Field surveys also supported the conclusion from remote sensing results that the tree line forest on Changbai Mountain has grown denser in the past decades. From 1980 to 2002, basal area of the tree line forest increased 35% (from 18.8 to 25.3 m 2 ha 21 ); at the same time the NDVI ratio increased about 33%. This study suggests that it is possible to monitor growth of the tree line forest based on multi-temporal remote sensing images. We speculate that global warming may have contributed to the observed rapid growth of the tree line forest because temperature is a major limiting factor among climatic variables in the tree line forest and effect from other factors, such as fire, harvesting and snow and wind damage, were not evident in this protected area in the past decades.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Can Landsat imagery detect tree line dynamics?

Zhang

Adams³

et al. 2009

International Journal of Remote Sensing

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“…L'expansion géné-rale des populations de mélèze enregistrée entre 1940 et 1970 a probablement été amorcée par une fonte plus hâtive de la neige et une plus longue saison de croissance. BRINK (1959), FRANKLIN et al (1971), DUNWID-DIE (1977), GORCHAKOVSKY et SHIYATOV (1978) et KULLMANN (1979) Depuis la deuxième moitié de la décennie 1960 et surtout à partir de 1970, un renversement de la tendance s'est manifesté chez les populations de mélèze dans les combes à neige de la rivière aux Feuilles. Le refroidissement climatique a affecté au moins 17% de la population échantillonnée (fig.…”

Section: éVolution Des Combes à Neigeunclassified

Les combes à neige de la rivière aux Feuilles (Nouveau-Québec) : indicateurs paléoclimatiques holocènes

Payette

Lajeunesse

2011

gpq

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L’analyse des sols et de la végétation de ces milieux a permis de situer leur origine et leur évolution au cours du Néoglaciaire. La présence de macrorestes fossiles (charbons de bois, cônes calcinés d’épinette noire Picea mariana (Mill)) BSP et de mélèze Larix laricina (DuRoi) K. Koch, fragments de bois) indique que les combes à neige viennent de milieux anciennement boisés. La disparition du couvert forestier se serait produite à la suite de feux survenant au cours de périodes climatiques froides inhibant toute régénération forestière. Les combes à neige sont ainsi la réponse à des périodes de détérioration climatique qui se sont manifestées quelque temps après 2600, 2200, 1600-1400, 1000-900 et 500-300 ans BP. Quelques combes à neige apparues tôt au Néoglaciaire auraient connu une régression autour de 1300-1200 ans BP (sous réserve), grâce à un réchauffement climatique ayant favorisé une certaine réafforestation. L’apparition et l’expansion graduelles des combes à neige aux dépens du couvert forestier de 2600 ans BP jusqu’à nos jours suggèrent que le refroidissement climatique, bien que persistant, n’était pas de grande amplitude; les feux auraient servi la plupart du temps d’amorce à l’expansion du couvert de neige. Les combes à neige situées à proximité de formations arborescentes ont subi un envahissement de mélèzes entre 1940 et 1970, corrélé avec le réchauffement climatique du XXe siècle. Depuis 1970, un renversement de la tendance climatique est survenu et est caractérisé par la mortalité d’au moins 17 % de la population de mélèzes des combes à neige. Cette mortalité est étroitement reliée à l’intense reprise des processus périglaciaires dans les combes. Finalement, l’apparition toute récente de grandes coulées de gélifiluction sur les versants enneigés a eu pour conséquence de détruire la végétation des bas-versants et favoriser la formation de nouvelles combes à neige.

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“…A mosaic of trees and meadows dominates the ecotone between the continuous forest below and the treeless alpine above. and on factors limiting sub-alpine forest distribution (Daubenmire, 1954;Zimina, 1973;Wardle, 1977;Gorchakovsky and Shiyatov, 1978;Payette and Gagnon, 1979;Tranquillini, 1979;Kullman, 1986). We focus on western North America because: (1) many data exist on recent changes in sub-alpine forest distribution; and (2) many sub-alpine mountain locations in this area lie within protected areas relatively free of human influence (Billings, 1969;Holtmeier, 1989).…”

Section: Terminology and Scopementioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in sub-alpine tree distribution in western North America: a review of climatic and other causal factors

et al. 1994

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Changes in the distribution of sub-alpine tree species in western North America have been attributed to climatic change and other environmental stresses. These changes include tree-line fluctuations throughout the Holocene and recent invasion of sub-alpine meadows by forest. Most palaeoecological studies suggest that the tree-line was higher during a period of warmer climate approximately 9000 to 5000 BP and lower during the last 5000 years, with short periods of local tree-line advance. Recent advances in sub-alpine tree distribution can be compared with weather records, allowing an examination of relationships between tree advance and climate at a finer resolution. In general, recent sub-alpine forest advances in western North America, based on studies representing three climatic zones (maritime, Mediterranean and continental), have been associated with climatic periods favouring tree germination and growth, although factors such as fire and grazing by domestic livestock have had an impact in some areas. Limitations to tree establishment (e.g., winter snow accumulation, summer drought) vary in relative importance within each climate zone, as do predicted consequences of anthropogenic climatic change. Recent increases in establishment of sub-alpine trees may continue if climatic change alleviates the limitations to tree establishment important in each climatic zone. However, factors such as topography and disturbance may modify tree establishment on a local scale.

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The Upper Forest Limit in the Mountains of the Boreal Zone of the USSR

Cited by 42 publications

References 0 publications

Can Landsat imagery detect tree line dynamics?

Can Landsat imagery detect tree line dynamics?

Les combes à neige de la rivière aux Feuilles (Nouveau-Québec) : indicateurs paléoclimatiques holocènes

Changes in sub-alpine tree distribution in western North America: a review of climatic and other causal factors

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