Testing the Effects of Simulated Climate Change Effects Using Open Sided Warming Chambers

Jill Sherwood,Diane Debinski,Matthew Germino

doi:10.13001/uwnpsrc.2011.3811

Abstract

Regional models of global climate change for the northern Rocky Mountains predict warmer temperatures, and some of the main implications of these changes at a local level involve decreased snowpack, earlier snowmelt, and decreased soil moisture during the growing season. In order to mimic the anticipated effects of climate change, and test the responses from a soil microclimate and plant physiology perspective, open-sided warming chambers and snow removal treatments were applied to 2.44 X 2.44 m plots in a sagebrush steppe meadow within Grand Teton National Park, WY. Four treatments included: (1) control, (2) reduced snowpack, (3) increased temperature, and (4) reduced snowpack with increased temperature. Snow was removed using shovels in early May, and chambers were placed at the same time. The chambers were left on the plots through mid-October. Soil moisture and temperature were measured and recorded at 5 cm, and 25 cm depths using dataloggers set up at the time of snow removal and chamber placement. In addition, surface temperature was measured under each plot and within the study area. Plant physiological data on four plant species, including leaf temperature at dawn and mid-afternoon and water potential, were collected for all of the plots in July. Data are being analyzed to determine whether differences existed between the plots for soil moisture, soil and air temperature, and the plant physiological traits measured.

Highlights

During the past century, temperature has increased by approximately 0.6°C (Walther et al 2002)
Estimated global temperature increases between 1.4°– 5.8°C are predicted during the period from 1990–2100 based on simulations from the Atmosphere‐Ocean General Circulation Model (AOGCM) performed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (Cubasch et al 2001; Notaro et al 2006)
This is consistent with similar studies and reveals that opensided chambers can simulate predicted climate change conditions

Summary

Introduction

Temperature has increased by approximately 0.6°C (Walther et al 2002). Estimated global temperature increases between 1.4°– 5.8°C are predicted during the period from 1990–2100 based on simulations from the Atmosphere‐Ocean General Circulation Model (AOGCM) performed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (Cubasch et al 2001; Notaro et al 2006). Climate changes are likely to be a major driver of ecological change. With these shifts, species will respond in different ways, resulting in dramatic implications for ecosystems. It is more likely that ecological communities will respond to local and regional climate variation and changes, which are spatially heterogeneous (Walther et al 2002). When compared with 20th century averages, the western United States had an average increase of 3°C during the period from 2003 – 2007 (Saunders et al 2008)

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion