The wildfires pose threat to subarctic boreal forest. In the boreal forest, the most prevalent type of fire is a crown fire, which spreads quickly from treetop to treetop.
About:
The boreal forest (or “taiga”) is the world’s largest land biome.
Boreal Ecozone:
It principally spans 8 countries:
Canada, China, Finland, Japan, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States.
Definition:
Boreal forests are defined as forests growing in high-latitude environments where freezing temperatures occur for 6 to 8 months and in which trees are capable of reaching a minimum height of 5 m and a canopy cover of 10%.
It is typically comprised of coniferous tree species such as pine, spruce and fir with some broadleaf species such as poplar and birch.
The circumboreal belt of forest represents about 30% of the global forest area, contains more surface freshwater than any other biome.
The forest -- named for Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind -- covers 10 percent of the world's land surface and has a decisive impact on the globe's northern oceans and overall climate.
The boreal forest is second only to the Amazon in terms of its vital role in ensuring the future of the planet.
The boreal forest holds twice as much carbon as all tropical forests combined, and also helps purify a massive amount of freshwater.
Threats:
increasing forest fires,
the melting of permafrost,
intensifying insect infestations and
warming temperatures.
Drunken trees:
They are tilted sideways due to melting permafrost.
Eventually, the soil will completely erode away from the roots, and the trees will tumble.
This buckling and sinking is because of the degradation of the permafrost, ground that has remained frozen for at least two years in a row.
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