Evaluating observed and projected future climate changes for the Arctic using the Koppen-Trewartha climate classification

Abstract

The ecosystems in the Arctic region are known to be very sensitive to climate changes. The accelerated warming for the past several decades has profoundly in？uenced the lives of the native populations and ecosystems in the Arctic. Given that the Koppen-Trewartha (K-T) climate classi？cation is based on reliable variations of land-surface types (especially vegetation), this study used the K-T scheme to evaluate climate changes and their impact on vegetation for the Arctic (north of 50N) by analyzing observations as well as model simulations for the period 1900？2099. in the Arctic. Given that the Koppen-Trewartha (K-T) climate classi？cation is based on reliable variations of land-surface types (especially vegetation), this study used the K-T scheme to evaluate climate changes and their impact on vegetation for the Arctic (north of 50N) by analyzing observations as well as model simulations for the period 1900？2099.