The displacement of taiga forests in Western Siberia towards high latitudes was recorded by scientists from the Tyumen State University together with Finnish meteorologists.
According to experts, climate warming caused by the increased activity of the Sun is most noticeable in the polar regions of the planet. A particularly steady rise in temperatures is observed in the North of Eurasia, which is why over the past 40 years there has been a latitudinal displacement of landscapes towards the North Pole by 100-150 kilometers. Taiga rises to high latitudes, where the tundra used to be.
It was noticed that the area of the tundra in the mountains has recently been significantly reduced due to the advance of forests. At the same time, on the plains, the active movement to the north by trees, in contrast to shrubs, scientists do not record. Plants do not keep pace with the movement of the climate, they move very slowly - about 1 meter per year. On the plain, there is no strong progress, but the density of forest stands is increasing. And if 100 years ago at least 1 spruce grew among larches, now it is already a real spruce forest.
Spruce is actively moving into the mountain tundra, thereby displacing shrubby vegetation and herbaceous species, for example, blueberries. This is especially noticeable in the mountains of the South Urals. It turns out that forest and forest-meadow species of herbaceous plants begin to penetrate into tundra communities.
The landscapes of the North are directly influenced by two physical objects that determine the microclimate - the planetary boundary layer of the atmosphere and permafrost. Both of them play the role of screens that regulate the flows of matter and energy.