A study of the contribution of mass elevation effect to the altitudinal distribution of timberline in the Northern Hemisphere

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

ZHAO, F.

Inst. of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Beijing, Chine

Univ. of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Chine

ZHANG, B.

Inst. of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Beijing, Chine

PANG, Y.

College of Resources Environment and Tourism, Normal Univ., Anyang, Chine

YAO, Y.

Inst. of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Beijing, Chine

Description :
This paper collects 516 data sites of timberline, and takes latitude, continentality and mass elevation effect (MEE) as independent variables and timberline elevation as dependent variable to develop a ternary linear regression model. Continentality is calculated using the meteorological data released by WorldClim and mountain base elevation (as a proxy of mass elevation effect) is extracted on the basis of SRTM 90-meter resolution elevation data. The results show that MEE is simply the primary factor contributing to the elevation distribution of timberline on the continental and hemispherical scales. The contribution rate of MEE to timberline altitude differs in North America, eastern Eurasia and in the western Eurasia, but it is usually very high.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Journal of geographical sciences. Acta geographica sinica, issn : 1009-637X, 2014, vol. 24, n°. 2, p. 226-236, nombre de pages : 11, Références bibliographiques : 49 ref.

Date :
2014

Editeur :
Pays édition : Chine

Langue :
Anglais