ALASKAN ARCTIC TUNDRA

By Kate Zha

Alaskan tundra in the summer

Alaskan tundra in the winter

Bigger: Arctic tundra across the world      Smaller: Arctic tundra in Alaska

HISTORY

            The Alaskan Arctic Tundra's ecosystem has more or less been extremely consistent in its history. Two main seasons rule the tundra climate—summer and winter. During summer, the sun shines for almost 24 hours of the day and the temperature is milder—usually settling around 37°F to 55°F. The winter, however, brings days full of darkness where the sun barely rises and frozen conditions can reach below -40°F. The soil is permafrost for 7 months out of the year during winter, meaning it is in a constant state of being frozen, and the frozen soil can reach from 25 to 90 centimeters deep. Because of this, very little trees can actually grow roots and survive in the tundra, essentially making it an herb-land of perennial plants. Common plants include willows, sedges and grasses, wildflowers, lichens, and mosses—all of which are actually dwarf versions of the plants that you would find in warmer climates in order to absorb more of the limited nutrients from the ground. Animals also have to be specially adapted to survive in the harsh conditions of the ecosystem and include arctic foxes, arctic wolves, musk-oxen, caribou, polar bears, and harlequin ducks.  All in all, the biodiversity in the tundra is extremely low, consisting of less than 1,700 plants and 50 animals. The tundra is also extremely dry, receiving less than 10 centimeters of precipitation in a year, which makes it extremely susceptible to fire. Yet, despite its barrenness in resources above the soil, below is a wealth of oil that has attracted the attention of humans wanting to harvest the resource. This, along with global warming, has changed the face of the Alaskan Arctic Tundra's ecosystem in current times and poses a problem for the future as well.

HUMAN IMPACT

                Humans have long wanted to tap into the oil that lies underneath Alaska's surface. Thanks to Secretary Fred Seaton in 1960,  the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was created in order to protect the wildlife and environment from being  destroyed in the quest of oil. Unfortunately, the refuge does not span the entire expanse of Alaska and there are parts that are affected by the drilling of oil. As the demand for energy grows, many oil developers are moving into the tundra to look for undiscovered paydays. However, these seismic explorations leave trails in the delicate permafrost of the area and damage the few plants that manage to grow in the harsh conditions. According to one study, "severe impacts to tundra vegetation persisted for two decades after disturbance under some conditions" after seismic exploration (Jorgenson, Hoef, Jorgenson 2009). Just this past July, BP, the oil company notorious for its Gulf of Mexico spill, had yet another mishap that leaked on oily mixture onto the Alaskan tundra. Oil spills can kill or damage most of the wildlife in the environment or cause animals to be driven away for long periods of time so that the biodiversity of the ecosystem changes. The tundra has a long history of being damaged by the oil spills that damage its coasts.

            Humans are also responsible for global warming—an occurrence that appears to be affecting the tundra faster than all the other ecosystems. The increasing temperatures are bringing with them a melting of permafrost and extremely large fires that are changing the landscape of the tundra. In 2007, the Anaktuvuk River fire broke out burning away a large section of tundra that still has yet to fully recover. Though fire is a natural and welcome part of the tundra ecosystem, the fires that occur are typically small and low-burning. However, studies show that the warming temperatures of the climate are affecting the fire outbreaks, causing the naturally caused burns (usually caused by a lightning strike) to turn into massive fires—and the big fires will continue to become more frequent as the temperature continues to rise. Other studies show that fires that break out closer to human inhabited areas are typically larger than those in the isolated wilderness because of the fire suppression of the area. When humans do not allow fire to burn the area naturally, the flammable plants build up and cause fires to grow much greater than they would in the wild. Global warming is also causing the permafrost that is imperative of tundra conditions to melt. Scientists hypothesize that this occurrence is the reason the tundra is now giving way to shrub land and even boreal forests. This changes the face of the entire ecosystem and is especially bad for the animals, like caribou, that are dependent on tundra plant life for sustenance. Polar bears are also now an endangered species due to the melting of the Unless the warming conditions are stopped, the tundra could very well become a lost ecosystem.

Anaktuvuk River fire in 2007

FUTURE PROSPECTS

            If the tundra is allowed to keep being affected by global warming, the outcome is most likely that the arctic will continue to melt and eventually be replaced by boreal forests and shrubs by 2059. However, because of the increasing drought conditions that occur with the temperature rise, the overall growth of vegetation would still be reduced despite the increasing plant adaptations that can occur. Animals that flourish in the tundra ecosystem will decrease in the future Alaskan tundra, either moving away to colder climates, adapting to become different species, or becoming extinct. New animals and plant life will take over the once barren landscape, effectively eradicating the Alaskan arctic tundra from existence. The melting of the permafrost as well as the increased fires are also releasing mass amounts of carbon dioxide and methane into the air, creating even more greenhouse gases that fuel global warming. This change could also very well lead to the disbanding of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, opening up the Alaskan frontier for oil exploitation in the future.

HOW TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS

            The main way to save the Alaskan arctic tundra is to slow down the progression of global warming. Though many countries have already started campaigns to "go green" in an effort to help protect the earth, there are many individual acts people must engage in before the world beings feeling the effects. Simple actions such as turning the thermostat up or down 2° in the summer or winter in order to use less air conditioning, using less water, defrosting refrigerators, carpooling to work, planting trees, eating less meat (specifically cows), and recycling are all ways to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and protect the world from future damage. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge also needs to remain in place in Alaska in order to protect the habitat from oil developers that threaten to destroy the ecosystem. Strict guidelines must also be put in place for the oil developers that already have permission to drill in Alaska in order to prevent future spilling from occurring and damaging the already fragile habitat of the tundra. All oil developers should have a safety mechanism in place, approved by the EPA, that will either prevent or immediately fix any leaks or spills that occur in the area. With just the slightest bit more of care in dealing with the environment, the Alaskan tundra, along with its rich and unique wildlife, may be able to be preserved for the future.

DATA TABLES

REFERENCES

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"The Tundra Biome." Marietta College Department of Biology and Environmental Science's Biomes of the World. Marietta College, 2001. Web. 23 Nov. 2011. <http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/tundra.htm>.

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Wall, Tim. "Alaska's Arctic Tundra Feeling the Heat." Discovery News. Discovery Communications, LLC, 21 Nov. 2010. Web. 23 Nov. 2011. <http://news.discovery.com/earth/alaskas-arctic-tundra-feeling-the-heat.html>.