ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Environment

Satellite data shows climate change pushing the entire boreal biome towards the north

Man-made global warming is making nature retreat. But there's not much space to retreat into.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
April 11, 2022 - Updated on May 4, 2022
in Environment, Remote sensing
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

The boreal biome, also called the boreal forest, snow forest, or taiga, is the largest land biome in the world, and it’s in a lot of trouble. According to recent satellite data, rising temperatures and high soil nitrogen levels are pushing the biome northward — but at some point, it will have nowhere left to go.

The boreal forest is highlighted in green.

A biome is a general term used to classify an area based on the species that live there. Things like temperature, soil type, the amount of light, and water form distinctive characteristics that define the biome. The boreal biome covers most of Canada, Alaska, and the northern US, as well as most of the northern parts of Europe and Asia. Boreal areas account for about 23% of our planet’s forests, and they generally experience less pressure from human activities — largely because they’re so cold and inhospitable.

But these areas are also under threat, it’s just that the threat is less visible.

Two researchers from Northern Arizona University (ecologist Logan Berner and remote sensing expert Scott Goetz) used satellite imagery to analyze whether this biome is stable or if it’s shifting position. They used moderate resolution images from Landsat satellites, gathered from 1985 to 2019.

They looked at signs of greening on the north edge (signs that the biome is expanding to the north) and browning in the south (signs that the trees were withdrawing from the south). This isn’t the first time this method has been used, and previous studies using it have also suggested a shift northwards, but this work paints a more comprehensive and large-scale picture: without a doubt, the biome is moving northward. The study also offers clues as to why this is happening.

Boreal landscapes are often wild and remote. Image credits: Roman Purtov.

Researchers also isolated the effects of climate change, focusing on areas that moved northwards on their own, not on areas recovering from disturbances due to wildlife or logging (or being destroyed by other human activities). They also compared the results with a database of soil nitrogen levels. As northern areas heat up, they stimulate microbes to release nitrogen, which promotes tree growth, creating a feedback loop that encourages trees to move north.

“Our analysis provides evidence of extensive climatically linked vegetation changes along the warm and cool margins of the boreal forest biome that will have broad ecological and societal implications,” the researchers note.

This shift is a “systematic trend,” the study reads, but satellite data can’t capture all the changes the biome is undergoing.

RelatedPosts

It’s the end of big oil as we know it, report concludes
Sea otters have a favorite rock that they keep in a fur pocker under their arms. They have a clever reason for it
Mars may have had a huge ocean
Sirtuin supplement diet prolongs life in mice

“It will be essential to expand ground-based ecological monitoring, advance mechanistic ecosystem models, and further capitalize on satellite remote sensing assets like Landsat for improved mapping of forest extent, composition, and disturbance dynamics in recent decades,” the researchers conclude.

The study was published in Global Change Biology.

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Health

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

byTibi Puiu
1 day ago
Anthropology

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

byTudor Tarita
1 day ago
Biology

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

byTudor Tarita
1 day ago
News

This $8750 Watch Was Designed for Space and Could Finally Replace Apollo-era Omega Watches

byTudor Tarita
1 day ago

Recent news

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

July 4, 2025

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

July 4, 2025

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

July 4, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.