treelines
Where trees stop
Treelines are the boundaries beyond which trees cannot grow, typically determined by altitude or latitude.
On mountains, the treeline marks where forest gives way to alpine meadow or bare rock.
In polar regions, it divides boreal forest from tundra.
The term also refers to rows of trees along a horizon or property edge: The treelines framed the distant hills.
Overhead protective covering
- understoryForest's lower vegetation tier
- woodlandForested land area
- timberlandForested land for lumber
- taigaSubarctic evergreen biome
boreal · coniferous · evergreen · spruce · fir · pine · birch · larch
Boundary or sharpness
- borderOuter edge or limit
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
- limitMaximum allowed extent
- frontierEdge of settlement
margin · fringe · verge · threshold · perimeter · contour · delineation · cutoff
Measured height above reference
- snowlinePermanent accumulation boundary
- subalpineJust below treeline zone
- montaneOf cooler elevated zones
- elevationHeight above reference point
tundra · summit · scree · glacier · permafrost · mountaintop · ridge · peak
Change from one state
- interfaceShared connection point
- gradientRate of change across space
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
zone · buffer · mosaic · biodiversity · species · ecosystem · ecological · biome
canopy
Overhead protective covering
- understoryForest's lower vegetation tier
- woodlandForested land area
- timberlandForested land for lumber
taiga · boreal · coniferous · evergreen · spruce · fir · pine · birch · larch · stunted
edge
Boundary or sharpness
- borderOuter edge or limit
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
- limitMaximum allowed extent
frontier · margin · fringe · verge · threshold · perimeter · contour · delineation · cutoff · transition
altitude
Measured height above reference
- snowlinePermanent accumulation boundary
- subalpineJust below treeline zone
- montaneOf cooler elevated zones
elevation · tundra · summit · scree · glacier · permafrost · mountaintop · ridge · peak · plateau
transition
Change from one state
- interfaceShared connection point
- gradientRate of change across space
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
convergence · zone · buffer · mosaic · biodiversity · species · ecosystem · ecological · biome
skyline
Urban profile against atmosphere
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
- vistaPleasing distant scene
panorama · landscape · backdrop · ridgeline · scenery · perspective · sunset · dawn · twilight · photography
- plant climatehardiness zones, climate zones, growing season, biomes, growing seasons
- misty landscapesfog, mist, haze, shroud, veil
treelinesunderstory
Forest's lower vegetation tier
forest floor · undergrowth · underbrush · root zone · leaf litter