Changes in Greenland landscape affect carbon balance sheet - Science Nation

The video explores the ecological changes in southwestern Greenland as the summer season arrives. Supported by the National Science Foundation, a team from Penn State University studies how native tundra plants respond to climate change. The Arctic has shown stable temperatures for 2,000 years until recent warming. Researchers use instruments to monitor vegetation, focusing on carbon dioxide exchange. As temperatures rise, woody shrubs replace grasslands, affecting carbon balance. The study examines how root growth timing influences carbon exchange. The relationship between vegetation types and carbon absorption is complex, with potential global implications.

What is the primary focus of Sean Cahoon's research team in southwestern Greenland?

• Analyzing the mineral composition of Greenland's soil

• Studying the migration patterns of Arctic animals

• Investigating the impact of climate change on tundra vegetation

• Exploring the melting patterns of glaciers

What significant change in vegetation has been observed in the Arctic due to rising temperatures?

• No significant change

• Decrease in woody shrubs

• Increase in grasslands

• Increase in woody shrubs

How does the tundra ecosystem contribute to the planet's carbon balance?

• By increasing the Earth's temperature

• By trapping greenhouse gases

• By reducing the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere

• By releasing more carbon dioxide than it absorbs

What method is used by researchers to study root growth in the tundra?

• Using drones to capture aerial images

• Threading a camera through a clear tube in the ground

• Collecting soil samples for laboratory analysis

• Observing root growth through satellite imagery

Why is it challenging to determine which vegetation type is better at absorbing carbon?

• Because the relationship is complex and not straightforward

• Because both types release the same amount of carbon

• Because shrubs always absorb more carbon than grass

• Because grass always absorbs more carbon than shrubs