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Three decades of remote sensing subarctic vegetation in northern Russia: A case study in science diplomacy

Part of: Arctic Science Diplomacy in the Rapidly Changing World

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2022

W.G. Rees Open the ORCID record for W.G. Rees [Opens in a new window] ,
O.V. Tutubalina Open the ORCID record for O.V. Tutubalina [Opens in a new window] ,
A. Medvedev Open the ORCID record for A. Medvedev [Opens in a new window] ,
G.J. Marshall Open the ORCID record for G.J. Marshall [Opens in a new window] ,
E.I. Golubeva Open the ORCID record for E.I. Golubeva [Opens in a new window] ,
N. Telnova Open the ORCID record for N. Telnova [Opens in a new window] ,
M. Zimin Open the ORCID record for M. Zimin [Opens in a new window] ,
P. Mikhaylykova Open the ORCID record for P. Mikhaylykova [Opens in a new window] ,
A. Terskaia Open the ORCID record for A. Terskaia [Opens in a new window]  and
E. Sklyar
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W.G. Rees*
Affiliation:
Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
O.V. Tutubalina
Affiliation:
Geography Faculty, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
A. Medvedev
Affiliation:
Geography Faculty, Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
G.J. Marshall
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
E.I. Golubeva
Affiliation:
Geography Faculty, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
N. Telnova
Affiliation:
Geography Faculty, Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
M. Zimin
Affiliation:
Geography Faculty, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
P. Mikhaylykova
Affiliation:
Geography Faculty, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
A. Terskaia
Affiliation:
Geography Faculty, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
E. Sklyar
Affiliation:
Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
J.A. Tomaney
Affiliation:
Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
*
Author for correspondence: W. G. Rees, Email: wgr2@cam.ac.uk
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Abstract

The vegetation at and beyond the northern edge of the world’s boreal forest plays an important though imperfectly understood role in the climate system. This is particularly true within Russia, where only a small proportion of the boreal land area has been studied in depth, and little is known about its recent evolution over time. We describe a long-term collaboration between institutions in Russia and the United Kingdom, aimed at developing a better understanding of high-latitude vegetation in Russia using remote sensing methods. The focus of the collaboration has varied over time; in its most recent form, it is concerned with the dynamics of the Russian boreal forest during the 21st century and its relation to climate change. We discuss the support framework within which it has been developed and reflect on its relationship to science diplomacy. We consider the factors that have contributed to the success of a decades-long international collaboration and make recommendations as to how such joint efforts can be encouraged in future.

Keywords

Remote sensingRussiaForestTundraCollaboration
Type
Commentary
Information
Polar Record , Volume 58 , 2022 , e37
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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