The map extent is the Arctic, defined as the Arctic Bioclimate Zone, the area of the Earth with tundra vegetation and an Arctic climate and Arctic flora. It excludes tundra regions that lack an Arctic flora, such as the boreal oceanic areas of Iceland, the Aleutian Island, and the alpine tundra regions south of latitudinal tree line. Tundra is a physiognomic descriptor of low-growing vegetation beyond the cold limit of tree growth, both at high elevation (alpine tundra) and at high latitude (arctic tundra). Tundra vegetation types are composed of various combinations of herbaceous plants, shrubs, mosses and lichens.
Tree line defines the southern limit of the Arctic Bioclimate Zone. In some regions of the Arctic, especially Canada and Chukotka, the forest tundra transition is gradual and interpretation of treeline directly from the AVHRR imagery was not possible.
Back to Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map
Go to Website Link :: Toolik Arctic Geobotanical Atlas below for details on legend units, photos of map units and plant species, glossary, bibliography and links to ground data.
Map Themes:
AVHRR Biomass 2010, AVHRR Biomass Trend 1982-2010, AVHRR False Color-Infrared 1993-1995, AVHRR NDVI 1993-1995, AVHRR NDVI Trend 1982-2010, AVHRR Summer Warmth Index 1982-2003, Bioclimate Subzone, Coastline and Treeline, Elevation, Floristic Provinces, Lake Cover, Landscape, Landscape Age,
Substrate pH, Vegetation Layer
References
Elvebakk, A. 1999. Bioclimate delimitation and subdivisions of the Arctic. Pages 81-112 in I. Nordal and V. Y. Razzhivin, editors. The Species Concept in the High North - A Panarctic Flora Initiative. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, Oslo.
Yurtsev, B. A. 1994. Floristic divisions of the Arctic. Journal of Vegetation Science 5:765-776.
