Draft 1. A Comparison of Deforestation in Tropical and Boreal Ecosystems as it relates to Climate Change

This topic submitted by Dave Smith and Melissa Hamann ( hamannmm@muohio.edu ) on 1/28/04 .

Global Climate Change -Western Program-Miami University

Research Question:
How do you forested and deforested areas adjust to an increase in temperature and atmospheric greenhouse gases in tropical and boreal ecosystems?

Specific Predictions:
We predict that deforest areas will be more affected by an increase in temperature and atmospheric greenhouse gases. Within the areas devoid of vegetation or altered vegetation, we expect an increase in physiological changes, an increase in CO2, a decrease in O2, a decrease in DBH (diameter at breast height), and a decrease in the mean height of the vegetation. For forested areas, it is predicted that physiological changes will occur at a slower rate, and all other measures will be opposite of that in a deforested area.

Preliminary Research Design:
Our study is designed to research the effects of deforestation on two unique ecosystems- boreal and tropical rainforests. These two ecosystems were chose because of their anthropogenic dichotomy. Boreal regions have been relatively unaltered when compared to the vast deforestation in tropical rainforest regions. We plan to examine satellite images, air composition studies, botanic physiological studies, sequestration of carbon studies, and forest density studies. Data will be compared between ecosystems and the extent of vegetation. Our findings will be graphed and studied to determine the strength of the correlation between climate change and deforestation.

Library/Journal References:
An, Soon-Il and Bin Wang. Mechanisms of Locking of the El Nino and La Nina Mature Phases to Boreal Winter. Journal of Climate, 5/1/2001, Vol. 14 Issue 9, p2164, 13p; (AN 5436558)
¥ Relating the phases of climatic oscillations to boreal seasons is the focus of this article. Besides finding the correlation between climate shifts and seasons, it also discusses the mechanisms behind the fluctuations.

Chapin III et al. Summer Differences among Arctic Ecosystems in Regional Climate Forcing. Journal of Climate, 6/15/2000, Vol. 13 Issue 12, p2002, 9p; (AN 5597005)
¥ The affect of arctic deforestation on northern boreal zones is discussed in this article. This article examines seasonal variance to climate change.

Granados, Julian and Christian Korner. ÒIn deep shade, elevated CO2 increases the vigor of tropical climbing plants.Ó Global Change Biology. Vol. 8 (2002) pp. 1109-1117.
¥ This journal article examines whether certain tropical plants are growing at faster rates due to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the air. Three tropical climbing plants of the Yucatan rainforests were measured over time for any changes in increased growth.

Mohren, G.M.J. Impacts of global change on tree physiology and forest ecosystems : proceedings of the International Conference on Impacts of Global Change on Tree Physiology and Forest Ecosystems, held 26-29 November 1996, Wageningen, The Natherlands
¥ Alterations in botanical physiology in many types of vegetated ecosystems is the primary focus of this publication; it is a documentary article that contains the findings of a 1996 conference.

OÕBrien, Karen L. ÒTropical Deforestation and Climate Change: What does the record reveal?Ó The Professional Geographer. Vol. 50 (1998). Pp. 140-153.
¥ This journal article examines how deforestation in the tropical rainforests of southern Mexico might be affecting changes in local climate. Research is given to show possible effects tropical deforestation has on leaving excess amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Tanja, Suni et al. ÒAir temperature triggers the recovery of evergreen boreal forest photosynthesis in the spring.Ó Global Change Biology. Vol. 9 (2003) pp. 1410-1426.
¥ This journal article examines whether boreal forests in the Netherlands are changing photosynthesis periods due to climate change. Research shows that growing seasons as well as time for coniferous trees to photosynthesize is increasing.

White, A. et al. ÒThe high latitude terrestrial carbon sink: A model analysis.Ó Global Change Biology. Vol. 6 (2000) pp. 227-245.
¥ This journal article examines the potential of northern latitude ecosystems like the coniferous forests to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Using global vegetation models, called Hybrid, researchers were able to predict future models of carbon sequestration of northern ecosystems above 50 degrees N.

Zhang, H. et al. ÒThe compounding effects of tropical deforestation and greenhouse warming on climate.Ó Vol. 49 (2001). pp. 309-338.
¥ This journal article examines the connection between high levels of carbon dioxide in the air and the rate of deforestation of tropical rainforests. Research has been done to simulate and predict the current rate of carbon being added to the atmosphere and what potential effects of deforestation of tropical forests may have on climate.

Website References:

http://www.ciesin.org/TG/LU/climate.html
¥ Titled ÒThe Contribution of Deforestation to Global Climate Change,Ó this site has many bibliographic references to a plethora of articles that cover will contribute to our research design.

http://www.climateark.org/
¥ ÒThe ClimateArk is dedicated to promoting public policy that addresses global climate change through reductions in carbon dioxide and other emissions, renewable energy, energy conservation and ending deforestation. The ClimateArk is for non- commercial, educational purposes only.Ó This site contains climate directories, updated news articles, and links to topical pages that organize the over 1,500 sites connected to ClimateArk.

http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/BOREAS/boreas_home_page.html
¥ The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) was a joint project between the United States and Canada to study the boreal forests of central Canada. BOREAS studied Òenergy, water, heat, CO2, and trace gas (exchange) between the boreal forest and the atmosphere.Ó Data that was collected between 1993 and 1996 was collected on many levels- surface, satellite images, and air composition.

http://www.gcte-focus1.org/activities/activity_11/task_111/CO2sites/list.html
¥ This is the worldwide project and publication site for the Elevated CO2 Network. There are resources to many studies done on all types of terrestrial ecosystems- including boreal and tropical rainforest.

http://www.bsrsi.msu.edu/trfic/products/amazon_products/amazonmaps.html
¥ TRFIC Map Products has a catalogue of Brazilian vegetation images. Images contained on the site include percent deforestation, vegetation and transition ecosystem classes, ground cover, and mean carbon per vegetation type. This site contains images that are over 30 years old.

http://forests.org/recent/1998/amazfrag.htm.
¥ ÒForest fragmentation may worsen global warming.Ó Worldwide Forest/Biodiverstiy Campaign News. January, 1998.
¥ Research concludes those fragments of forests left over after burning and cutting, are contributing to an increase in greenhouse gases. Significant levels of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere after burning and cutting.

http://www.co2science.org/journal/2001/v4n48c1.htm.
¥ ÒEcological changes in tropical montane cloud forests: Harbingers of global warming?Ó Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change. November, 2001.
¥ This study by Pru Foster, studies the possibility of deforestation in lowlands that may be causing disturbance to upland forest ecosystems. A warming in the lowlands may cause warmer temperatures in the upper montane regions as well, changing speciesÕ habitats.

PDF References:
http://www.gcte-focus1.org/activities/activity_11/task_112/NEWS/c240-_o.pdf
¥ Rustad LE and Norby RJ. 2002. Temperature increase: effects on terrestrial ecosystems. Mooney HA and Canadell JG, eds. Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change, Vol 2, The Earth system: biological and ecological dimensions of global environmental change, pp 575-581.
¥ This article discusses how the expected temperature change will affect different altitudes as well as factors, such as deforestation, that will either contribute or help an area resist the affects of climate change.

http://www.uneptie.org/energy/env/docs/climatechange.pdf
¥ In this article it the United Nations Environmental ProgramÕs integrated response to climate change. This article talks about the causes of climate change and how nations should work together to minimize the environmental impact of economic progress. Deforestation is one of the articleÕs focused topics.

http://www.who.int/docstore/bulletin/pdf/2000/issue9/bu0737.pdf
¥ Included in a World Health Organization document, this article titled ÒClimate change and vector-borne diseases: a regional analysisÓ contains a breakdown of the factors that highly affect global climate change based on the region. Thus, there is insight as to which regions are most affected by deforestation.

http://www.unep.org/pdf/Nature.pdf
¥ ÒExtinction risk from climate change.Ó This pdf was first seen as a letter in Nature that was written by nineteen scientists. Data contained in this article included percentage of pristine woodlands that were deforested and which species are most likely to become extinct with the loss of habitat.

http://www.climatechangeconnection.org/pdfs_ccc/Forests.pdf
¥ This document contains information on the connection of vegetation loss due to forest fires and how that affects global climate change. In addition, it harbors information on carbon sinks.

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