The researchers chose the forest areas of the Altai Mountains to study because climate change in
Another factor was that observations in thisThe area has been conducted since 1957 - scientists have already collected enough data so that they can be analyzed. In particular, the computer model of the impact of climate change on forests included dendrochronological and meteorological data, as well as satellite and aerial photographs.
Modeling showed that in the second half of XXcentury, the rate of displacement of the forest border relative to sea level has increased significantly. If at the beginning of the XX century the border of the forest was at an altitude of 2.15 thousand meters above sea level, then over the next 52 years, the trees moved up to about 2.2 thousand meters and continued to grow at this height.
Moreover, in the period 1994 to 2002, some trees reached even higher elevations - about 2.3 thousand m above sea level.
Serious climatic changes can lead to faster shifting of trees and increase the speed of their movement 100-1000 times relative to the natural rate of migration.
Terry Callaghan, lead author of the study
Previously, scientists found that climate change will lead to a gradual increase in arid regions around the world.