Kenai Peninsula (AK) Drying Out As It Warms Rapidly - ADN

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Warming temperatures over the past half-century have been slowly drying out the Kenai Peninsula, transforming wetlands into forests and shrinking ponds, according to a study that analyzed vegetation change at more than 1,100 locations.

The loss of wetlands could reduce bird nesting habitat, and the expansion of woody growth into wet areas could increase the danger from wildfires, said biologist Eric Klein, lead author of a paper published this August in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research. "You're getting rid of these natural breaks," Klein said. "It becomes quicker and easier for wildfires to spread."

The study found that wooded areas in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge had grown dramatically since 1950, expanding from 57 percent to 73 percent of the land. Wetlands shrank, from covering about 5 percent to less than 1 percent. Many lakes lost volume too, especially small, isolated "kettle lakes" that have existed since the ice age ended 8,000 to 12,000 years ago.

"It seems like that there is an environmental shift taking place," said Klein, who conducted the research for his master's degree in environmental science at Alaska Pacific University. "This is just one more piece of the puzzle."

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http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/kenai/story/7045666p-6949634c.html