Climate Change and Alaskan Wetlands Sadie Iverson SWES 574

Wetlands in Alaska As of 1990, only 0.1% lost Walker et al. 2005

Wetland Types Many varieties Many varieties Peatlands (muskegs) Peatlands (muskegs) Marshes (salt and freshwater) Marshes (salt and freshwater) Some affected by permafrost Some affected by permafrost Copper River Delta, southeast Alaska

Wildlife Signficance Examples: Examples: –Yukon-Kuskokwim River Delta (at left) –Copper River Delta bna.birds.cornell.edu

Climate Change 0.6°C warming over 20 th century 0.6°C warming over 20 th century Causes Causes –End of Little Ice Age –Excess greenhouse gases

Arctic Impact? Importance of ice Importance of ice Atmospheric effects Atmospheric effects Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, 2004 Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, 2004

Why Alaska? Arctic effects Arctic effects Heavily mapped for oil and mineral exploration Heavily mapped for oil and mineral exploration Low population density (fewer human effects) Low population density (fewer human effects) A muskeg

Methane Effect Alaska produces 7% of the Arctic’s methane Alaska produces 7% of the Arctic’s methane Attributed to warming of peatlands Attributed to warming of peatlands Felzer and Hu 2004

Successional Effect Encroachment of scrubby trees like spruce Encroachment of scrubby trees like spruce Typical of warming eras in history Typical of warming eras in history Potential effects not fully understood Potential effects not fully understood Sturm 2001

Wetland Loss Example Kenai Peninsula Lowlands Kenai Peninsula Lowlands

Kenai Results Muskegs, kettle ponds turn to wet soil or uplands Rise in temperature, lowering of moisture (Klein et al. 2005)