An investigation of the ecological anomaly of the tundra of southern Newfoundland and ecosystem response to stress

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Title:An investigation of the tundra lying at the  southern end of Newfoundland  and the effect of climate change on this  unique systemAs one drives south from St Johns,Nfld  the vegetation changes from boreal forest  till, at the southern-most end of the Avalon and Burin peninsulas, the ecosystem encountered is arctic tundra.This appearance of tundra so far south is not  due to long frozen months but to the intensely foggy environbment. Some locations on this tundra have foggy days more than half of the year  cutting down incoming solar radiation and giving very low annual heat units.The tundra is ancient , believed to trace back to much more extensive areas in post glacial times.Plants and animals, including caribou live here. Given the rapid melting of the Greenland ice cap, accelerated  run-off and  accelerated calving of icebergs, floating down the Labrador and Newfoundland coast ,is it possible that the fogs will increase and  the southern tundra climate will detiorate? This study will examine the  vegetation and soil conditions, look for green house gas emission changes over time and assess the likelihood of cooling , with consequences for the land and people of Newfoundland.