Isla H. Myers-Smith , Jeff Kerby, Gareth K. Phoenix, Jarle Werner Bjerke, Howard E. Epstein, Jakob Johann Assmann, Christian John , Laia Andreu-Hayles, Sandra Angers-Blodin, Pieter S.A. Beck

As the Arctic warms, vegetation is responding and satellite measures indicate widespread greening at high latitudes. This ‘greening of the Arctic’ is among the world’s most significant large-scale ecological responses to global climate change. However, a consensus is emerging that the underlying causes and future dynamics of so-called Arctic greening and browning trends are more complex, variable, and inherently scale dependent than previously thought. Here, we summarize the complexities of observing and interpreting high-latitude greening to identify key priorities for future research. Incorporating satellite and proximal remote sensing with in-situ data, while accounting for uncertainties and scale issues will advance the study of past, present, and future Arctic vegetation change.