Vegetation and permafrost: sensitive systems for the development of a monitoring program of climate change along an Antarctic transect

• Main Authors: CANNONE, Nicoletta, GUGLIELMIN M.
• Other Authors: HUISKES, A.H.L., GIESKES, W.W.C., ROZEMA, J., SCHORNO, R.M.L., VAN DER VIES, S.M., WOLFF, W.J. EDITORS, Cannone, Nicoletta, Guglielmin, M.
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Backhuys Publishers 2003
• Subjects: vegetation; permafrost; climate change; antarctic transect; monitoring system; Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctica; King George Island; Signy Island
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11392/1190721

Permafrost occurrence and distribution are highly dependent on climatic conditions. In Antarctica, permafrost occurs in deglaciated areas; it is usually associated with vegetation communities. A monitoring program based on the sensitive system “vegetation-permafrost” will allow to detect climate change effects. In this paper we propose a research protocol to monitor active layer changes and vegetation development through the phytosociological approach. In each study site different types of vegetation-permafrost systems have to be analysed to calibrate climate change effects both within the same study site and along the transect, thus avoiding the interference of local processes. A first step of the protocol has been realised at Jubany, King George Island, where 5 permanent plots have been installed in 2001. The next steps will be the creation of a monitoring site in Terra Nova Bay for Continental Antarctica and on Signy Island for Maritime Antarctica.