UMN study says northern Minnesota forests will change with climate

[NickB79]

Not really surprising, but interesting in that they used heaters to get real-world results. Wonder what their electric bill was last winter when it was -40F?

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_27360953/u-study-says-northern-minnesota-forests-will-change

CLOQUET, Minn. -- Minnesota's northern forests will look much different in coming decades as a warming climate encourages tree species like oaks and maples and pushes others, including spruce and fir, out of the region.

That was the finding of a University of Minnesota study published this week in the journal Nature Climate Change that used growing plots near Cloquet and Ely and added the amount of warmth expected later this century.

The study was the first of its kind in a northern forest to use ceramic heaters to warm the air near newly planted seedlings as well as heating cables in the ground.

The results were that species like spruce and fir that thrive in cooler areas suffered poorer growth and survival when warmed just a few degrees -- up to a 40 percent decline in growth.

Crazy idea: fill planes with acorns and start seeding burn-overs from the air to get a head-start on things.