timber line
Trees stop here
The timber line is the elevation on a mountain or the latitude in polar regions beyond which trees cannot grow.
Above this boundary, conditions become too cold, windy, or dry to support tree life.
Also called the tree line.
We hiked above the timber line into alpine tundra.
Of high elevations
- treelineElevation limit for forests
- subalpineJust below treeline zone
- montaneOf cooler elevated zones
- elevationHeight above reference point
altitude · zone · boundary · ecotone · gradient · snowline · upper limit · vertical
Cone-producing trees
- spruceNeat; also a conifer
- firCone-bearing evergreen genus
- pineCone-bearing evergreen
- larchDeciduous coniferous tree
shrubs · willows · heaths · lichens · mosses · meadow · tundra · stunted growth
Measured heat intensity
- growing seasonTime crops can mature
- frostThin ice coating
- windAir current outdoors
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
snow · ice · permafrost · microclimate · harsh · extreme · exposure · desiccation
Boundary between distinct habitats
- transitionChange from one state
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
migration · ecosystem · wildlife corridor · edge effect · fragmentation · indicator · sensitivity · monitoring
alpine
Of high elevations
elevation · altitude · zone · boundary · ecotone · gradient · snowline · upper limit · vertical · exposure
conifers
Cone-producing trees
larch · shrubs · willows · heaths · lichens · mosses · meadow · tundra · stunted growth · seedlings
temperature
Measured heat intensity
- growing seasonTime crops can mature
- frostThin ice coating
- windAir current outdoors
precipitation · snow · ice · permafrost · microclimate · harsh · extreme · exposure · desiccation · solar radiation
ecotone
Boundary between distinct habitats
- transitionChange from one state
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- biodiversityRange of life forms
adaptation · migration · ecosystem · wildlife corridor · edge effect · fragmentation · indicator · sensitivity · monitoring
timber linesea level
Elevation reference point
valley floor · lowlands · forest floor · piedmont · coastal plain