Climate Change and Alaskan WetlandsWetlands in AlaskaWetland TypesWildlife SignficanceClimate ChangeArctic Impact?Why Alaska?Methane EffectSuccessional EffectWetland Loss ExampleKenai ResultsClimate Change and Climate Change and Alaskan WetlandsAlaskan WetlandsSadie IversonSadie IversonSWES 574SWES 574Wetlands in AlaskaWetlands in AlaskaAs of 1990, only 0.1% lostWalker et al. 2005Wetland TypesWetland TypesMany varietiesMany varietiesPeatlands Peatlands (muskegs)(muskegs)Marshes (salt Marshes (salt and and freshwater)freshwater)Some affected Some affected by permafrostby permafrostCopper River Delta, southeast AlaskaWildlife SignficanceWildlife SignficanceExamples:Examples:–Yukon-Yukon-Kuskokwim River Kuskokwim River Delta (at left)Delta (at left)–Copper River Copper River DeltaDeltabna.birds.cornell.eduClimate ChangeClimate Change0.60.6°C warming over 20°C warming over 20thth century centuryCausesCauses–End of Little Ice AgeEnd of Little Ice Age–Excess greenhouse gasesExcess greenhouse gasesArctic Impact?Arctic Impact?Importance of iceImportance of iceAtmospheric effectsAtmospheric effectsArctic Climate Impact Assessment, 2004Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, 2004Why Alaska?Why Alaska?Arctic effectsArctic effectsHeavily mapped for oil and mineral Heavily mapped for oil and mineral explorationexplorationLow population density (fewer human effects)Low population density (fewer human effects)A muskegMethane EffectMethane EffectAlaska produces Alaska produces 7% of the 7% of the Arctic’s Arctic’s methanemethaneAttributed to Attributed to warming of warming of peatlandspeatlandsFelzer and Hu 2004Successional EffectSuccessional EffectEncroachment Encroachment of scrubby trees of scrubby trees like sprucelike spruceTypical of Typical of warming eras in warming eras in historyhistoryPotential effects Potential effects not fully not fully understoodunderstoodSturm 2001Wetland Loss ExampleWetland Loss ExampleKenai Peninsula LowlandsKenai Peninsula LowlandsKenai ResultsKenai ResultsMuskegs, kettle ponds turn to wet soil or uplandsMuskegs, kettle ponds turn to wet soil or uplandsRise in temperature, lowering of moistureRise in temperature, lowering of moisture(Klein et al. 2005)(Klein et al.