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Climate Change and Alaskan Rivers and Streams

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Global Climate Change and Freshwater Ecosystems

Abstract

In this chapter, we explore the potential of Alaskan rivers and streams as exemplary systems for the study of effects of global climate change on high latitude freshwaters in northern regions. A wide range of climates and resulting ecosystem types are found in high latitudes. A major factor in the distribution of these ecosystem types is the latitudinal decrease in yearly input of solar energy and the latitudinal increase in its seasonal amplitude. In addition, the ameliorating effects of maritime influences (especially from warm ocean currents) produce regional differences in climate. Warming of northern Europe and much of Alaska by ocean currents (compared to frigid Greenland at a similar latitude) are classic examples (Young, 1989; Stonehouse, 1989). Alaska’s climate includes maritime in the southeast panhandle, continental in the central interior, and arctic in the northwest and north. Likewise, distribution of permafrost and vegetation range from coastal Western Hemlock-Sitka Spruce forest with no permafrost to arctic tundra underlain by continuous permafrost. Any attempt to assess potential impacts of climate change in polar and subpolar regions must take into account both regional physiographic differences (e.g., distribution of permafrost) and changes in heat transfers from lower latitudes (e.g., Roots, 1989).

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Authors
  1. M. W. Oswood
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  2. A. M. Milner
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  3. J. G. Irons III
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biotic Systems and Resources Division, National Science Foundation, Washington, DC, 20550, USA

    Penelope Firth

  2. Department of Zoology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA

    Stuart G. Fisher

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Oswood, M.W., Milner, A.M., Irons, J.G. (1992). Climate Change and Alaskan Rivers and Streams. In: Firth, P., Fisher, S.G. (eds) Global Climate Change and Freshwater Ecosystems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2814-1_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2814-1_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-7681-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-2814-1

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