Structure and Dynamics of Tree Stands at the Upper Timberline in the Western Part of the Putorana Plateau

Research on the Putorana Plateau reveals that forest expansion at the upper timberline, particularly on south- and southwest-facing slopes, is driven by climate warming over centuries. The study found significant changes in the altitudinal position of tree vegetation boundaries, with correlations between trunk diameters and phytomass fractions. By analyzing age structures, diachronous topographic maps, and satellite images, scientists reconstructed historical dynamics of tree stands, highlighting how shifts in climate conditions facilitate forest growth at higher elevations.

Grigor’ev, A. A., Devi, N. M., Kukarskikh, V. V., V’yukhin, S. O., Galimova, A. A., Moiseev, P. A., & Fomin, V. V. (2019). Structure and Dynamics of Tree Stands at the Upper Timberline in the Western Part of the Putorana Plateau. Russian Journal of Ecology, 50(4), 311–322. https://doi.org/10.1134/s1067413619040076