COLD CLIMATES: FOCUS ON BOREAL LANDS

Chapter 20

Introduction to the Boreal ClimateTwo types of cold climate are:• Tundra climate –

coldest (furthest from equator)

• Boreal climate‘Boreal’ means ‘northern’

Tundra climate is in Arctic CircleBoreal climate is between 50-66.5 N.

January: very cold, temperatures down -29C in places

Short, warm summers up to 16C

Less than 400mm of rain per year

Spruce TreesFir TreesPine trees

There are many coniferous forests of:• Spruce trees• Pine trees• Fir trees

Natural Vegetation

• Most conifers are evergreen

• Slender shape offers little resistance to the wind which prevents damages from storms

• Thick bark keeps moisture in and stops wind and cold from getting into the trees.

• Thin needles don’t wither in the wind.

• The branches slope towards the ground to allow the snow to fall off.

• Shallow roots develop in the thin layers of soil.

• Sustainable logging is extremely important.

• Rule: Cut one, plant two trees (as said by Swedish Government)

Taiga 1/3 of the worlds trees

Chapter SummaryMain details from this chapter include:

Russia, USA, Canada, Finland, Norway and Sweden are the Boreal lands of the world.

They are located in the northern hemisphere between 50-=66.5 (north of the equator).

There are two types:TundraBoreal

The climate type : Cool temperate Climate

Cold winters: -29C (high latitudes)Summers: 16C in JulyPrecipitation: 400mm per year

Natural vegetation: coniferous trees (spruce, fir, pine).Vegetation adapts by: Shape, bark, needles, shallow roots and sloping branches‘Taiga’ = forests of the Boreal area 1/3 of the worlds trees).