Siberia: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "= Introduction = Siberia is a vast region of Russia that lies east of the Ural Mountains, stretching from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the borders of Mongolia and China in the south. The region is home to some of the world's coldest temperatures and most extreme weather conditions. Siberia is one of the world's largest and most sparsely populated regions. The population of Siberia is estimated at around 40 million people, spread over an area of more than 13 million...") |
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Siberia is also home to a number of important ecosystems, such as the taiga forest and the tundra. These ecosystems are threatened by the impacts of climate change, as well as by the activities of humans, such as logging and mining. | Siberia is also home to a number of important ecosystems, such as the taiga forest and the tundra. These ecosystems are threatened by the impacts of climate change, as well as by the activities of humans, such as logging and mining. | ||
= Climate Crises = | |||
== Permafrost Melting == | |||
=== Bioregional Context === | === Bioregional Context === | ||
Revision as of 22:28, 18 October 2022
Introduction
Siberia is a vast region of Russia that lies east of the Ural Mountains, stretching from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the borders of Mongolia and China in the south. The region is home to some of the world's coldest temperatures and most extreme weather conditions.
Siberia is one of the world's largest and most sparsely populated regions. The population of Siberia is estimated at around 40 million people, spread over an area of more than 13 million square kilometers. The majority of the people who live in Siberia are ethnic Russians, although there are also significant populations of other ethnic groups, such as Ukrainians, Tatars, and Kazakhs.
The climate of Siberia has long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The average January temperature in Siberia is -15°C, while the average July temperature is +15°C. However, temperatures can vary widely depending on location, with some areas experiencing temperatures as low as -60°C in winter and as high as +40°C in summer.
Siberia is a major source of Russia's natural resources, including oil, gas, coal, and timber. The region is also home to a number of important historical and cultural sites, such as the city of Novgorod, the birthplace of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Siberia is also home to a number of important ecosystems, such as the taiga forest and the tundra. These ecosystems are threatened by the impacts of climate change, as well as by the activities of humans, such as logging and mining.
Climate Crises
Permafrost Melting
Bioregional Context
Siberia is one of the world's most environmentally sensitive regions. The region is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its large area of permafrost which is thawing as the climate warms. This thawing permafrost is releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which is further contributing to global warming in a positive feedback loop.
Feedback Loop
This feedback loop, if not reversed, will release more carbon emissions (CO2 + CH4) than is currently contained in the entirety of the Earth's atmosphere - an amount six times greater than total greenhouse emissions since the launch of the industrial revolution.
New Pandemics
In 2014 scientists revived a giant but harmless virus, dubbed Pithovirus sibericum, that had been locked in the Siberian permafrost for more than 30,000 years. [1] This has fueled fears that similar harmful 'novel' ancient viruses which have been frozen for tens of millennia could also be newly released.
Massive Wildfires
In August of 2021, the Washington Post reported that "Siberia’s wildfires are bigger than all the world’s other blazes combined" [2]
Unprecedented for the region (going back at least 3400 years): https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac4b53
Climate Action
A number of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures are being implemented in Siberia, in an effort to protect the region's environment. These measures include the establishment of protected areas, the planting of trees, and the development of climate-friendly technologies.
Protected Areas
The Russian government has established a number of protected areas in Siberia, in an effort to conserve the region's ecosystems. These protected areas include national parks, nature reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries.
Reforestation
Reforestation is a key climate change mitigation measure being undertaken in Siberia. The Russian government has set a goal of planting one billion trees in the region by 2025. This ambitious target is part of Russia's larger plan to combat climate change, which includes measures such as increasing energy efficiency and developing renewable energy sources.
Climate-Friendly Technologies
A number of climate-friendly technologies are being developed and implemented in Siberia, in an effort to reduce the region's environmental impact. These technologies include solar power, wind power, and geothermal energy.