Changing Winters across the Northern Forest

Winter is a key period for the ecology, culture, and economy of the northern forest region that includes Maine. Yet winter is changing faster than any other season. These changes begin in the fall, with later onset of fall dormancy. They persist into the winter and include the loss of cold temperatures below freezing and fewer days with snow cover. Winters are also becoming shorter as spring onset advances earlier in the year. This talk will explore how winters have been changing in the past, how they might continue to change in the future, and the implications of these changes for the ecosystems and people of the Northern Forest region.

Presented by Dr. Alix Contosta, a Research Assistant Professor at the University of New Hampshire’s Earth Systems Research Center. She studies winter ecology and the winter-to-spring transition, especially the ways in which climate change impacts terrestrial ecosystems during these periods. She explores interactions between land use and climate, with emphasis on carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions from ecosystems under a variety of land uses and management regimes. Dr. Contosta utilizes a combination of innovative field and lab experiments, state-of-the-art environmental sensors, and data-model integration to pursue her research agenda.

Part of the 2021 Acadia Winter Festival hosted by Schoodic Institute.