Long-term monitoring of airborne pollen in Alaska and the Yukon: Possible implications for global change
Airborne pollen and spores have been sampled since 1978 in Fairbanks and 1982 Anchorage and other Alaska-Yukon locations for medical and ecological purposes. Comparative analyses of pre- and post-1986 data subsets reveal that after 1986 (1) pollen is in the air earlier, (2) the multiyear average of degree-days promoting pollen onset is little changed while (3) annual variation in degree-days at onset is greater, (4) pollen and spore annual productions are considerably higher, and (5) there is more year-to-year variation in pollen production. These changes probably reflect directional changes in certain weather variables, and there is some indication that they are of global change significance, i.e., related to increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases. Correlations with pollen data suggest that weather variables of high influence are temperatures during specific periods following pollen dispersal in the preceding year and the average temperature in April of the current year. Annual variations in pollen dispersal might be roughly linked to the 11 year sunspot cycle through air temperature mediators. Weather in 1990, apparent pollen production cycles under endogenous control, and the impending sunspot maximum portend a very severe pollen season in 199 existing but unfunded sampling projects.
- Research Organization:
- Alaska Univ., Fairbanks, AK (United States). Inst. of Arctic Biology
- OSTI ID:
- 7264162
- Report Number(s):
- AD-P-007324/7/XAB
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: This article is from 'Proceedings of the International Conference on the Role of the Polar Regions in Global Change Held in Fairbanks, Alaska on 11-15 June 990. Volume 2', AD-A253 028, p453-459. See also Volume 1, AD-A253 027
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALASKA
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
POLLEN
MONITORING
SPORES
YUKON TERRITORY
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
ANNUAL VARIATIONS
ARCTIC REGIONS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GREENHOUSE GASES
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SUNSPOTS
WEATHER
CANADA
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
NORTH AMERICA
POLAR REGIONS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
STARSPOTS
STELLAR ACTIVITY
USA
VARIATIONS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)