If the global warming trend continues, the Siberian tundra could completely disappear by the year 2500.
If climate change is not kept under control, the Siberian tundra will lose its natural geological and climatic features and will slowly transform into a forest. Moreover, melting of the tundra’s permafrost could also release a huge amount of stored greenhouse gases, potentially accelerating warming worldwide.
Ecologist and forest modeler Stefan Kruse of the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI), said, “This was stunning for us to see how quickly the tundra will be turned over to forest,”
Scientists foresee that the loss of the tundra will impact biodiversity and human culture, and will also worsen Arctic warming.
As a result of the rise in temperatures, the treeline for Siberian larch forests is steadily advancing to the north.
Experts from the AWI have now prepared a computer model that carefully examines the entire evolution of the Siberian tundra. Moreover, the model also evaluates the way trees grow and develop in the region.
So in order to avoid these negative consequences, we need to take some action. Kruse said, “The best option would be to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the pressure,”
“But nevertheless, if we cannot do that, one needs to do species conservation.”
