Russian scientists drew a map of regions with high risk of environmental disasters under the influence of global warming processes, RIA Novosti informs.
Climate changes destabilize ecosystems and result in local and even regional ecological catastrophes such as floods, fires and other natural hazards. According to scientists, often they happen all of a sudden, so it is very important for science and economy to predict and prevent such cases.
A climate model was developed in the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The model defines the most vulnerable regions of the European part of our country. Scientists used data from climate satellites in their work.
Researchers aimed at finding out how forests control climate. They also evaluated autoregulation mechanisms of forest ecological systems.
Swamps, forests and meadows react differently on warmth and sunlight. They evaporate water differently. Due to this fact, global warming influences their growth and development also in different ways. Understanding of causes is very important for predicting plausible climate change aftermath. Forest under influence of sunlight and warmth may turn into steppe, and if there is much water, it can turn into swamp. Meadows may become forests when there is enough water in soil for trees to grow.
Scientists are sure that many ecological catastrophes may be prevented in case forest, meadow or swamp is kept away from the critical point. It is much easier to do it at this stage, than to eliminate damage caused by the accident afterwards.
Russkiy Mir
