Subarctic Vegetation under the Mixed Warming and Air Pollution Influence

In the Siberian Arctic, worldwide largest forest mortality was caused by chronical (since 1940s) influence of SO2 emissions on larch-dominant communities. We hypothesized that warming might mitigate increasing trees’ vigor and growth. studied trees (larch, Larix sibirica; spruce, Picea obovate; birch, Betula pendula) bushes (willow, Salix sp., alder, Duschekia fruticosa) growth dependence SO2, air temperature, soil temperature moisture, precipitation. sampled woods in severely damaged larch moderately mixed larch, spruce birch forests. generated tree ring chronologies indices (GI). used Terra/MODIS satellite data for mapping trends vegetation (NDVI) productivity (GPP, NPP) indexes. forest, we found a strong decrease GI mortality, which lasted until end 1990s. were more resistant to compared spruce. temperatures mediators all woody species Winter precipitation stimulated mitigating spring water stress. Warming onset 2000s led pronounced increase June–July temperatures, together with moderate emissions, primary drivers phenomenon. Increasing GPP, NPP, NDVI observed within large part earlier forests, attributed expansion SO2-resistant grasses bushes.