ID 213 : Environmental baselines, processes, changes and Impacts on people in Nordic arctic regions (ENVISNAR)

Leader:
Terry Callaghan - Abisko Scientific Research Station, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences - Sweden

Summary:
Multiple environmental changes are occurring in the northern regions of Europe. Some of these environmental changes, for example climate warming, levels of UV-B radiation, and habitat fragmentation, are projected to continue likely leading to unprecedented conditions since the last deglaciation. There will be large impacts on the peoples of the North, both problems and opportunities, and consequences outside the region because of the important role that the Arctic plays in the earth system.

Period:

The ‘official’ fieldwork period of ENVISNAR started in February 2007, although for many projects –such as the one of the present author- investigation and fieldwork started already late 2005. During the IPY-time frame (March ’07 – March ’09) fieldwork will be continued and yet some first publications will evolve. By the end of 2009 several conclusions will be ready for online publication.

List of Belgian Partners involved
Rik Van Bogaert, Ghent University (PhD-student of Flanders Research Foundation: FWO)

Description of the Belgian Contribution :
The Belgian study “Recent treeline dynamics in Northern Sweden – a multi-disciplinary landscape assessment” is a PhD-project funded by FWO (Flanders Research Foundation) by Rik Van Bogaert, Ghent University.

Objectives
This project wants to establish a monitoring network for vegetation shift dynamics, in particular treeline, in northernmost Sweden. A standardized, georeferenced baseline of environmental information against which changes throughout the current century can be measured is aimed for. The study focuses on the detection of change at multiple local sites that can validate model projections and remotely sensed data.

Expected results
Several field explorations in the subarctic area of Abisko (68°21'N, 18°49'E) will result in an extensive spatial database of bio-geo information for the Torneträsk landscape area, including numerous digital geo-referenced photographs, treeline measures, and geomorphic data. This intelligent GIS-module will be a major reference frame for future monitoring of (sub)arctic vegetation shifts.

Added value within the core project
The treeline issue forms an important element in terrestrial environmental changes which are presently occurring in the polar areas. The Belgian contribution includes this topic and hence will lead to a better understanding of the interacting processes causing vegetation shifts. The input of interrelated parameters such as plant ecology, hydrology, geomorphology, climatology, and land-use history will increase our ability to project future environmental changes at the landscape scale and beyond. It becomes clear that this study is particularly important in the process of upscaling.

Related Campaigns:
This study is linked with the project TARANTELLA (ID 59): “Terrestrial ecosystems in ARctic and ANTarctic: Effects of UV Light, liquefying ice, and ascending temperatures”, in which Louis Beyens and Bart Van de Vijver of Antwerp university are involved.
The project is also related to the IPY-projects PPS Arctic (ID 151) & Back To The Future (ID 214) in which the same author is involved.

Links:
- www.geoweb.ugent.be/research/phys.asp
- www.ans.kiruna.se
- myweb.dal.ca/br238551/pps.html