Subalpine
From Fiswiki
Subalpine refers to the biotic zone immediately below tree line around the world. Species that occur in this zone depend on the location of the zone on the Earth.
Trees in the subalpine zone often become krummholz, that is, crooked wood, stunted and twisted in form. At treeline, tree seedlings may germinate on the lee side of rocks and grow only as high as the rock provides wind protection.
Snow cover may protect krummholz trees during the winter, but branches higher than wind-shelters or snow cover are usually destroyed. Well-established krummholz trees may be several hundred to a thousand years old.
Subalpine meadows are high-altitude grasslands that are located in the subalpine zone.
[edit] Also See
- Mountain
- Tree line
- Physical Features of Mountains
- Defining Mountain Regions
- Snow and Weather Glossary
- Frozen Ground
- Cryosphere
- What Affects Frozen Ground
- What is the Cryosphere
- Snow
- Clouds
- Freezing Point / Freeze
- Moisture
- Rime
- Thaw depth
[edit] Reference
- Wikipedia Subalpine [1]
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