We live in the Rockies, where the timberline is 11,500 feet. So when I heard that in the Alps the timberline was 5,000 feet, I wanted to know why. I've done a bit of research, but nothing was very conclusive. All I got out of google was a list of mountains and their timberline altitudes, which is pretty helpful but not what I was looking for.
Just as an interesting note, the flatlands next to the mountain where I live is above 6,500 feet, and the flatlands next to the Alps are 1,500 feet high.
2007-06-30 05:43:26 · 4 answers · asked by Candy apple 1 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
It depends completely on the environment and the climate. Ecologists have classified several different types of tree lines.
The Wiki article is fairly good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_line
2007-06-30 05:48:11 · answer #1 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can get different timberlines on the same mountain. Not only can they be different on different sides of the mountain, but on the same side of the mountain! Look carefully and you will see that the timberline is not a straight, horizontal line, it varies depending upon rain, sun, soil, wind circulation patterns, and general climatological conditions. For the most part, a "timberlines" is the line above which trees DO NOT grow, not where the do grow.
2007-06-30 06:09:47 · answer #2 · answered by ekil422 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Timberline (or treeline) depends on latitude and temperature. As you get closer to the north and south poles, respectively, treeline will shift to lower altitudes.
2007-07-01 08:58:11 · answer #3 · answered by Wayne B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Latitude and distance from the ocean could be factors.
2007-06-30 06:59:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋