Siberian Tundra Case Study

Question 1

General facts of the Siberian Tundra

Answer 1

• Almost 850km squared
• Many layers of vegetation from interglacial and glacial periods
• Yedoma region is 50-90% ice, 2% carbon

Question 2

Changing climate’s affect on the Siberian Tundra

Answer 2

• Thawing ice releases methane, adding to global warming
• It also unthaws vegetation, allowing photosynthesis to occur
• Currently, the rate of photosynthesis exceeds the rate of methane emissions, meaning it is a carbon sink
• Hypothetically, it could become a carbon source once a ‘tipping point’ has been reached
• When this ‘tipping point’ is reached, a positive feedback loop is created

Question 3

Prevention of global warming

Answer 3

• There have been global agreements to avoid ‘runaway’ global warming (measures to ensure global temperatures don’t rise pass 2 degrees Celsius