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Permafrost response to vegetation greenness variation in the Arctic tundra through positive feedback in surface air temperature and snow cover

Journal Article · · Environmental Research Letters
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Yonsei Univ., Seoul (Republic of Korea)
  2. Kyonggi Univ., Gyeonggi (Republic of Korea)
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
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The permafrost response to variations in Arctic vegetation remains controversial. We investigated the consequences of Arctic vegetation greenness variation over the past three decades using a coupled land-atmosphere model and found that it induces air temperature perturbation, which is further amplified by snow cover variation and eventually leaves a footprint on soil temperature. Compared to the atmospheric impacts of vegetation, local shading of vegetation canopy has relatively minor effects on soil temperature. Significant soil warming was observed along the summer snowline between the Low and High Arctic, indicating the direct impact of snow cover variation led by vegetation changes. In the Low Arctic, the winter snowpack insulates the soil from colder air, resulting in less permafrost. In the High Arctic, snow persists for more than 330 d per year and has a strong protection effect on the permafrost as it insulates soil from warmer summer air and reflects solar radiation.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1545234
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 22881436
Journal Information:
Environmental Research Letters, Journal Name: Environmental Research Letters Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 14; ISSN 1748-9326
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
arctic vegetation
permafrost
snow cover