why is the treeline out west so much higher than in the east?

Answer 1

It's not.

The timberline generally runs at 9,000 to 11,000 feet everywhere on earth, depending on latitude and rainfall. But there are almost no mountains that high in the eastern US.

Answer 2

really good question and I am not happy with any of the answers as yet.
My best guess would be the severity of weather on the east coast.
I have spent much time hiking the Presidential Range of NH and surrounding areas.
The highest point of the Presidentials is Mt.Washington at 6288' which has the highest wind velocity ever recorded on earth - 231-mph - and consistently has wind speeds of over 100mph and an average monthly wind velocity of around 39 mph Combine that with really cold temps- the average daily temperature is 16 degrees- and you wind up with a really short growing season and a very unwelcome environment for plants.
Treeline on the Presidentials is around 3600' and it is the classic vertical vegetation progression until stunted alpine growth is reached followed by tundra and then ultimately lichen covered rocks . Clearly human intervention was not a factor in this progression.
The hike from a deciduous forest to tundra can be accomplished [ depending on the trail] in less than 1.5 miles
Franconia Ridge to the SE and Mt Katahdin 300+ miles to the NE look similar to the Presidentials
Thoreau once said that the summit of Mt. Katahdin -5267' - looked like it rained rocks and it's a very apt description.
Glaciation may also be a factor in the treeline disparity. New England was run over by glaciers during the last ice Age.

Answer 3

Two things: Climate and human habitat.

The West Coast used to be sparsely populated. With less population the trees can grow longer without being cut down. That's human habitat.

Also, the weather conditions are harsher in the West Coast. Drought, fire, floods. The stronger trees survived. Thiose that could gather some of their moisture from the air (and could reach higer for more humidity) would survive. Those that had tough outer bark and had branches high enough to escape the worst of the fires survived. And when the floods came, those younger weaker trees with shallow root system got swept away. Ever walked through a redwood forest? Notice how much space there is between one tree and another? It's because the older ones crowd out the younger ones and the younger ones die out or are burned when the fire comes around. That's the climate side of the equation.

I think you refer to the treetops, not the timberline, as these other two guys seem to think. Am i right?

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

rise of the land..........................

sea level higher................