Local-scale Arctic tundra heterogeneity affects regional-scale carbon dynamics.

ABSTRACT: In northern Alaska nearly 65% of the terrestrial surface is composed of polygonal ground, where geomorphic tundra landforms disproportionately influence carbon and nutrient cycling over fine spatial scales. Process-based biogeochemical models used for local to Pan-Arctic projections of ecological responses to climate change typically operate at coarse-scales (1km²-0.5°) at which fine-scale (<1km²) tundra heterogeneity is often aggregated to the dominant land cover unit. Here, we evaluate the importance of tundra heterogeneity for representing soil carbon dynamics at fine to coarse spatial scales. We leveraged the legacy of data collected near Utqiaġvik, Alaska between 1973 and 2016 for model initiation, parameterization, and validation. Simulation uncertainty increase

SUBMITTER: Lara MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7529807 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature