Dr. Mads C. Forchhammer, University of Aarhus, Denmark
Interview with Dr. Mads C. Forchhammer, National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Denmark.
August, 2008.
CA-CP: Could you tell us about your position at the University of Aarhus and the nature of your research?
Dr. Forchhammer: I am a professor in Global Change Biology at the National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Denmark. During the last 15 years, my research has focused on how climatic changes affect the lives of species and the environment in which they are embedded. With my background as a population biologist, I study the effects of climate through statistical analyses and modelling of large time series and monitoring data sets. Since 1996, I’ve been involved in the large monitoring programme Zackenberg Ecological Research Operations (ZERO), which continuously, year after year monitor climate-related changes in an entire high-arctic ecosystem. The programme involves scientists from the entire spectrum of natural science, climatologists, glaciologists, geo-physicists and biologists. ZERO covers all the terrestrial, freshwater and marine compartments of the ecosystem. You can find more information here. We have recently published a book based on 10 years of monitoring and research at Zackenberg.
CA-CP: How are terrestrial ecosystems changing in the Arctic in response to Arctic Warming? Why is this important to understand?
Dr. Forchhammer: The Arctic may be regarded as a “magnifying glass” for understanding the effects of climate on ecosystems. There are basically two reasons for this. First, arctic ecosystems are structurally simple, which makes them optimal for not only studying direct climate effects on different species but also the so-called indirect effects involving effects which affect the structure and function of the ecosystem. For example, any climate effects on plant growth and flowering may potentially affect herbivores such as muskoxen, caribou or lemmings. However, the effect may also go the other way from herbivores to plants. So even in a simple ecosystem the effects of climate may become complicated quickly.
The second reason is that the most extreme changes in climate are expected to occur in the Arctic and, hence, we expect to see responses here earlier than elsewhere. Studying arctic ecosystems will enable us to provide general clues of how climate may affect systems elsewhere will.
At Zackenberg we have already seen the consequences of climatic changes. From 1996 to 2005 the average June temperature increased by over 1º C. This was followed by an extension of the growth season by over 3 weeks. The interesting question was whether the species could follow such dramatic changes over just a decade? Surprisingly they could. Plants like the arctic willow bloomed up to 2-3 weeks earlier and also the few arctic insects emerged much earlier during this period of warming. You can read more here.
CA-CP: How are changes in Arctic terrestrial ecosystems affecting the planet, and those of us living in the Europe or the United States?
Dr. Forchhammer: In addition to gaining detailed ecosystem knowledge through studies of climate effects in the Arctic and, hence, how climate in general may affect temperate systems, the changes in the Arctic may influence us profoundly at lower latitudes, primarily through the so-called feedback mechanisms. Usually three feedbacks are considered to be important. First, changes in reflectivity of the surface through snow and ice melt and changes in vegetation cover. Melting of snow and ice, for example, will result in darker surface which will absorb more of the sun’s energy. This self-enforcing cycle may potentially accelerate the warming trend globally.
The second feedback concerns the melting ice in the Arctic adding more freshwater to the system potentially slowing the thermohaline circulation with global climate consequences.
The third feedback from the Arctic is through greenhouse gas emissions. Large amounts of carbon are trapped as organic matter in the Arctic permafrost. As the soil melts during summer organic matter is decomposed and methane and carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere. Warming will increase the decomposition and can create an amplifying loop with increasing amounts of greenhouse gasses released to the atmosphere increasing the global greenhouse effect. The relative importance of this process is, however, uncertain. You can find more information at the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) web site.
View Dr. Forchhammer's presentation at ARCUS's 2008 Annual Meeting and Arctic Forum
CA-CP: Could you tell us about your position at the University of Aarhus and the nature of your research?
Dr. Forchhammer: I am a professor in Global Change Biology at the National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Denmark. During the last 15 years, my research has focused on how climatic changes affect the lives of species and the environment in which they are embedded. With my background as a population biologist, I study the effects of climate through statistical analyses and modelling of large time series and monitoring data sets. Since 1996, I’ve been involved in the large monitoring programme Zackenberg Ecological Research Operations (ZERO), which continuously, year after year monitor climate-related changes in an entire high-arctic ecosystem. The programme involves scientists from the entire spectrum of natural science, climatologists, glaciologists, geo-physicists and biologists. ZERO covers all the terrestrial, freshwater and marine compartments of the ecosystem. You can find more information here. We have recently published a book based on 10 years of monitoring and research at Zackenberg.
CA-CP: How are terrestrial ecosystems changing in the Arctic in response to Arctic Warming? Why is this important to understand?
Dr. Forchhammer: The Arctic may be regarded as a “magnifying glass” for understanding the effects of climate on ecosystems. There are basically two reasons for this. First, arctic ecosystems are structurally simple, which makes them optimal for not only studying direct climate effects on different species but also the so-called indirect effects involving effects which affect the structure and function of the ecosystem. For example, any climate effects on plant growth and flowering may potentially affect herbivores such as muskoxen, caribou or lemmings. However, the effect may also go the other way from herbivores to plants. So even in a simple ecosystem the effects of climate may become complicated quickly.
The second reason is that the most extreme changes in climate are expected to occur in the Arctic and, hence, we expect to see responses here earlier than elsewhere. Studying arctic ecosystems will enable us to provide general clues of how climate may affect systems elsewhere will.
At Zackenberg we have already seen the consequences of climatic changes. From 1996 to 2005 the average June temperature increased by over 1º C. This was followed by an extension of the growth season by over 3 weeks. The interesting question was whether the species could follow such dramatic changes over just a decade? Surprisingly they could. Plants like the arctic willow bloomed up to 2-3 weeks earlier and also the few arctic insects emerged much earlier during this period of warming. You can read more here.
CA-CP: How are changes in Arctic terrestrial ecosystems affecting the planet, and those of us living in the Europe or the United States?
Dr. Forchhammer: In addition to gaining detailed ecosystem knowledge through studies of climate effects in the Arctic and, hence, how climate in general may affect temperate systems, the changes in the Arctic may influence us profoundly at lower latitudes, primarily through the so-called feedback mechanisms. Usually three feedbacks are considered to be important. First, changes in reflectivity of the surface through snow and ice melt and changes in vegetation cover. Melting of snow and ice, for example, will result in darker surface which will absorb more of the sun’s energy. This self-enforcing cycle may potentially accelerate the warming trend globally.
The second feedback concerns the melting ice in the Arctic adding more freshwater to the system potentially slowing the thermohaline circulation with global climate consequences.
The third feedback from the Arctic is through greenhouse gas emissions. Large amounts of carbon are trapped as organic matter in the Arctic permafrost. As the soil melts during summer organic matter is decomposed and methane and carbon dioxide is released to the atmosphere. Warming will increase the decomposition and can create an amplifying loop with increasing amounts of greenhouse gasses released to the atmosphere increasing the global greenhouse effect. The relative importance of this process is, however, uncertain. You can find more information at the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) web site.
View Dr. Forchhammer's presentation at ARCUS's 2008 Annual Meeting and Arctic Forum