Relationships between vegetation dynamics and hydroclimatic drivers in the northern high-latitude uplands

Hailong Wang, Doerthe Tetzlaff, James Buttle, Sean K. Carey, Hjalmar Laudon, James McNamara, Christopher Spence, Chris Soulsby

Research output: Contribution to conferencePosterpeer-review

Abstract

IPCC projections show that climate warming will be particularly high in northern high-latitude regions, which has profound ecohydrological implications: a small rise of temperature may result in lower water availability in summer due to less rainfall and more evapotranspiration, increase flooding risks by accelerating melting rates in spring, and more rain rather than snow in winter, etc. These impacts will affect vegetation communities by altering timing of the spring “green-up” and fall “senescence”. Change in vegetation water use will feedback to atmospheric and hydrological cycles. Here, we report results from the PLATO “Plant-water interlinkages in northern uplands – mediation of climate change?” project where we investigate water uptake by plants and consequent water availability in northern regions along a cross-regional climate gradient to understand future responses to change in high-latitude uplands. Six sites in Sweden (Krycklan), Canada (Wolf Creek; Baker Creek; Dorset), Scotland (Girnock) and the USA (Dry Creek) span moisture and energy gradients found at high-latitudes. We are presenting preliminary results of vegetation phenology changes from 2000 to 2014 by analysing remote sensing vegetation indices. The relationship between vegetation phenology and climatic drivers (temperature and precipitation) is also investigated.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2015
EventAGU Fall Meeting 2015 - San Francisco, United States
Duration: 14 Dec 201518 Dec 2015

Conference

ConferenceAGU Fall Meeting 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period14/12/1518/12/15

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