Arctic Biodiversity Trends 2010: Indicator #11, Greening of the Arctic

Arctic vegetation has undergone enormous change in the past, most notably in response to the glacial and interglacial periods of the Quaternary. Data from many sources and at several scales suggest that recent climate change is already affecting terrestrial Arctic ecosystems. Comparisons of historical and contemporary aerial photographs provide evidence that Arctic vegetation has already undergone significant shifts in recent decades, foreshadowing changes that are likely to come. Increased shrub cover has been confirmed in two repeat photography studies in northern Alaska and in a recent study in the Mackenzie Delta region of Canada.