Global change

Research themes

Human-induced climate change and habitat loss are global threats that are changing the atmosphere, climate, hydrology, biodiversity and even earth surface processes and landscapes. High-latitudes are experiencing rapid and significant change associated with climate warming. This puts global change research at the centre of the international scientific agenda. A key aim of the global change research is to improve understanding and forecast the nature of change in the biogeographical and geomorphological systems, particularly at high latitudes.
The main objectives:

• The impact of climate change to the high-latitude tree-line ecotone
• Impacts of forestry on reindeer husbandry
• Spatial and temporal changes in high-latitude biodiversity patterns
• Climate change and geomorphological processes

Staff

Professor PhD Jan Hjort (University of Oulu, Department of Geography)
Professor PhD Miska Luoto (University of Helsinki, Department of Geography)
Postdoctoral researcher PhD Janne Alahuhta (University of Oulu, Department of Geography)
Postdoctoral researcher PhD Sonja Kivinen (University of Oulu, Department of Geography)
Researcher MSc Henna Sormunen (University of Oulu, Department of geography)
Researcher MSc Sanna Varanka (University of Oulu, Department of geography)
Senior researcher PhD Risto K. Heikkinen (Finnish Environment Institute)
Senior Curator PhD Risto Virtanen (University of Oulu, Department of Biology)

Research projects

Integrated impacts of climate, land use and decision making on reindeer husbandry in changing northern areas (CLADINA)
Person in charge: Sonja Kivinen

Main publications

• Varanka, S. & Luoto, M. (In press). Environmental determinants of water quality in boreal rivers based on partitioning methods. River Research and Applications.
• Alahuhta, J., Heino, J. & Luoto, M. (2011). Climate change and the future distributions of aquatic macrophytes across boreal catchments. Journal of Biogeography 38: 383-393.
• Alahuhta, J., Vuori, K.-M. & Luoto, M. (2011). Land use, geomorphology and climate as environmental determinants of emergent aquatic macrophytes in boreal catchments.  Boreal Environment Research 16, 185–202.
• Gilichinsky, M., Sandström, P., Reese, H., Kivinen, S., Moen, J., & M. Nilsson (2011). Mapping ground lichens using forest inventory and optical satellite data. International Journal of Remote Sensing 32, 455–472.
• Sormunen, H., Virtanen, R. & Luoto, M. (2011). Inclusion of local environmental conditions alters high-latitude vegetation change predictions based on bioclimatic models. Polar Biology 34, 883–897.
• Alahuhta, J., Hokka, V., Saarikoski, H., & S. Hellsten (2010). Practical integration of river basin and land use planning: lessons learned from two Finnish case studies. The Geographical Journal 176, 319-333.
• Hjort, J., Etzelmüller, B. & J. Tolgensbakk (2010). Effects of scale and data source in periglacial distribution modelling in a High Arctic environment, western Svalbard. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes 21, 345–354.
• Kivinen, S., Moen, J., Berg, A. & Å. Eriksson (2010). Effects of modern forest management on winter grazing resources of reindeer in Sweden. Ambio 39, 269-278.
• Virtanen, R., Luoto, M., Rämä, T., Mikkola, K., Hjort, J., Grytnes, J.-A. & J. Birks (2010). Recent vegetation changes in the high latitude tree line ecotone are controlled by geomorphologic disturbance, productivity and diversity. Global Ecology and Biogeography 19, 810–821.Christiansen, H.H., Etzelmüller, B., Isaksen, K., Juliussen, H., Farbrot, H., Humlum, O., Johansson, M., Ingeman-Nielsen, T., Kristensen, L., Hjort, J., Holmlund, P., Sannel, A.B.K., Sigsgaard, C., Åkerman, H.J., Foged, N., Blirka, L.H., Pernosky, M.A. & R. Ødegård (2010). The Thermal State of Permafrost in the Nordic area during IPY 2007-2009. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes 21, 156–181.
• Hjort, J. & M. Luoto (2009). Interaction of geomorphic and ecologic features across altitudinal zones in a subarctic landscape. Geomorphology 112, 324–333.