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 are the main objectives of the research conducted by Sean Cahoon and his team in southwestern Greenland?

How has the warming climate affected the vegetation types observed in the Arctic tundra?

What role does the tundra play in the carbon balance of the planet?

Discuss the relationship between root growth timing and above-ground carbon exchange.

What implications could changes in ground cover have on the effects of climate change?