Alpine Tundra Contraction under Future Warming Scenarios in Europe
The alpine tundra is the highest elevation belt of high mountains. This zone is an important reservoir of freshwater and provides habitat to unique species. This study assesses projected changes in the areal extent of the alpine tundra climate zone in three warming levels in European mountains. The...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/698 |
| _version_ | 1797563642555662336 |
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| author | José I. Barredo Achille Mauri Giovanni Caudullo |
| author_facet | José I. Barredo Achille Mauri Giovanni Caudullo |
| author_sort | José I. Barredo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The alpine tundra is the highest elevation belt of high mountains. This zone is an important reservoir of freshwater and provides habitat to unique species. This study assesses projected changes in the areal extent of the alpine tundra climate zone in three warming levels in European mountains. The alpine tundra was delineated using the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. We used 11 regional climate model simulations from EURO-CORDEX disaggregated at a one-kilometre grid size representing the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios in the 1.5, 2 and 3 °C warming levels. Mitigation represented by the 1.5 °C warming level reduces projected losses of the alpine tundra. However, even in this warming level the projected contraction is severe. In this case, the contraction in the Alps, Scandes and Pyrenees together is projected at between 44% and 48% of the present extent. The contraction is projected to climb in the 2 °C warming to above 57%, while the 3 °C warming would imply that the alpine tundra will be near to collapse in Europe with a contraction of 84% in the three regions, which host most of the alpine tundra in Europe. The projected changes have negative implications for a range of ecosystem services and biodiversity, such as habitat provision, water provision and regulation, erosion protection, water quality and recreational services. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:45:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-518a4c968c714e85806c742e60ace6ff |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:45:24Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-518a4c968c714e85806c742e60ace6ff2023-11-20T05:31:04ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-07-0111769810.3390/atmos11070698Alpine Tundra Contraction under Future Warming Scenarios in EuropeJosé I. Barredo0Achille Mauri1Giovanni Caudullo2European Commission, Joint Research Centre, 21027 Ispra, ItalyEuropean Commission, Joint Research Centre, 21027 Ispra, ItalyArcadia SIT s.r.l., 27029 Vigevano, ItalyThe alpine tundra is the highest elevation belt of high mountains. This zone is an important reservoir of freshwater and provides habitat to unique species. This study assesses projected changes in the areal extent of the alpine tundra climate zone in three warming levels in European mountains. The alpine tundra was delineated using the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. We used 11 regional climate model simulations from EURO-CORDEX disaggregated at a one-kilometre grid size representing the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios in the 1.5, 2 and 3 °C warming levels. Mitigation represented by the 1.5 °C warming level reduces projected losses of the alpine tundra. However, even in this warming level the projected contraction is severe. In this case, the contraction in the Alps, Scandes and Pyrenees together is projected at between 44% and 48% of the present extent. The contraction is projected to climb in the 2 °C warming to above 57%, while the 3 °C warming would imply that the alpine tundra will be near to collapse in Europe with a contraction of 84% in the three regions, which host most of the alpine tundra in Europe. The projected changes have negative implications for a range of ecosystem services and biodiversity, such as habitat provision, water provision and regulation, erosion protection, water quality and recreational services.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/698alpine tundraclimate changebiodiversityglobal warming |
| spellingShingle | José I. Barredo Achille Mauri Giovanni Caudullo Alpine Tundra Contraction under Future Warming Scenarios in Europe Atmosphere alpine tundra climate change biodiversity global warming |
| title | Alpine Tundra Contraction under Future Warming Scenarios in Europe |
| title_full | Alpine Tundra Contraction under Future Warming Scenarios in Europe |
| title_fullStr | Alpine Tundra Contraction under Future Warming Scenarios in Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alpine Tundra Contraction under Future Warming Scenarios in Europe |
| title_short | Alpine Tundra Contraction under Future Warming Scenarios in Europe |
| title_sort | alpine tundra contraction under future warming scenarios in europe |
| topic | alpine tundra climate change biodiversity global warming |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/698 |
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