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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 5, NUMBER 8, AUGUST 1992

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS: FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS

Item #d92aug38

"Impacts of Annual Weather Conditions on Forest Productivity--A Case Study Involving Four North American Deciduous Tree Species," D.D. Reed (Sch. For., Michigan Tech. Univ., Houghton MI 49931), E.A. Jones et al., Intl. J. Biometeor., 36(1), 51-57, Mar. 1992.

Studies at two intensively managed sites in northern Michigan show that responses to changes in temperature and moisture depend on the species and on site conditions. Projected climate changes may have dramatic effects on the productivity of at least some commercially important tree species in the northern U.S.

Item #d92aug39

"Forest Response to Climatic Change: Effects of Parameter Estimation and Choice of Weather Patterns on the Reliability of Projections," D.B. Botkin (Dept. Biol. Sci., Univ. California, Santa Barbara CA 93106), R.A. Nisbet, Clim. Change, 20(2), 87-111, Feb. 1992.

Sensitivity analyses show that projections of forest response will generally be insensitive to errors of 10% in parameter estimation, and relatively insensitive to the choice of baseline weather records.

Item #d92aug40

"Boreal Forest Sensitivity to Global Warming: Implications for Forest Management in Western Interior Canada," T. Singh (Northern For. Ctr., Edmonton, Alberta, Can.), E.E. Wheaton, For. Chronicle, 67(4), 342-348, Aug. 1991.

Increases of 3° -7° C projected for Alberta under a doubled CO₂ scenario have many short- and long-term implications for forest management and for industries. Since the boreal forest is very sensitive to climatic changes, foresters need to develop a set of safe strategies to minimize the negative impacts and maximize the benefits of these changes.

Item #d92aug41

"Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Patterns of Production and the Role of Drainage in Grassland," A.C. Armstrong (Field Drainage Exper. Unit, Agric. Devel. & Advis. Serv., Anstey Hall, Maris Lane, Cambridge CB2 2LF, UK), D.A. Castle, Grass & Forage Sci., 47(1), 50-61, Mar. 1992.

Results from a grass production model show that patterns in the U.K. could be shifted significantly under an elevated CO₂ climate. Greater grass growth in spring due to warmer temperature, and depressed growth in mid-season due to moisture deficit would be most noticeable on drained land. Under a changed climate, the drainage of grassland together with sound management to optimize output would be important.

Item #d92aug42

"An Initial Approach to Predicting the Sensitivity of the South African Grassland Biome to Climate Change," W.N. Ellery (Dep. Bot., Univ. Witwatersrand, Priv. Bag 3, Witwatersrand 2050, S. Africa), R.J. Scholes, M.T. Mentis, S. African J. Sci., 87(10), 499-503, 1991.

Defines three climatic indices by which the grassland biome in South Africa can be distinguished from neighboring biomes. They also provide a simple method of predicting possible vegetation responses to climatic change. The approach, demonstrated with a specific climate change scenario, has several advantages, although it fails to identify rates or pathways of change or species involved.

Item #d92aug43

"Soil Water Retention after Natural and Simulated Rainfall on a Temperate Grassland," J.M. Welker (Merlewood Res. Sta., Inst. Terr. Ecol., Grange Sands LA11 6JU, Cumbria, UK), S. McClelland, T. Weaver, Theor. Appl. Clim., 44(3-4), 229-237, 1991.

Examines temporal characteristics of soil water retention on experimental plots following natural and simulated summer showers. If a changed climate alters rainfall amounts of summer showers in the U.S. Northern Great Plains, soil water retention and associated ecosystem processes may be significantly altered in Agropyron smithii (Rybd.) grasslands.