Conclusions

Except for the global elevational decline of air temperature and atmospheric pressure, there are no globally common trends in climate with respect to altitude. Patterns of radiation, precipitation, snow duration, and wind differ from region to region, even within certain latitudes.

The alpine ecosystems are not necessarily "cold" for those living there. Topography and plant life form have an overwhelming influence on actual life conditions, particularly under bright sun shine. Moisture shortage is rarely a problem at high elevation. If so, effects operate via top soil nutrient availability rather than moisture stress.

In those regions which experience snow cover ("winter"), snow has largely a protective function, hence its spatial distribution shapes habitat types and vegetation patterns.

Don't be fooled by visual impressions and human perception of what may be limiting or stressing. Remember: only those which are not fit are stressed. Those selected for life in the alpine environment are commonly fit.

Further reading

Part of this unit has been extracted from Körner Ch (2003) Alpine Plant Life: functional plant ecology of high mountain ecosystems. Springer, Berlin, chapter 3-5

For a comparison of the temperature climate in the different mountain systems of Europe consult Körner Ch, Paulsen J, Pelaez-Riedl S (2003) A bioclimatic characterisation of Europe's alpine areas. In: Nagy L, Grabherr G, Koerner Ch, Thompson DBA (eds) Alpine Biodiversity in Europe, Ecol Stud vol 167, Springer, Berlin

Acknowledgements

Christian Körner
(Institute of Botany, Ecology - University of Basel)
Concept and content, photographs
Thomas Zumbrunn
(Institute of Zoology, Evolution - University of Basel)
Technical realisation, photographs
Thomas Fabbro
(Clinical Trial Unit - University Hospital Basel)
photographs

Glossary

anthocyanid
Blue/red water soluble pigment
bioclimatology
The science of the climate in and around organisms
biota
The sum of all organisms in a given space
ecosystem
The sum of all living (biotic) and dead (abiotic) elements which compose a functional unit in a given space (e.g. a meadow, a forest)
ericaceous
Belonging to the Ericaceae plant family
evapotranspiration
The sum of all vapour losses of an ecosystem, i.e. including evaporation from dead surfaces (soil), transpiration by plants and vapourisation of interception (the surface water film on plants after rain)
fellfield
A largely barren, high elevation plain dominated by patches of graminoid and shrub vegetation and cryptogams
glacier forefield
The recently released land area in front of a glacier
macroclimate
The climate over larger areas outside the vegetation layer. Commonly referring to 2 m above ground and shade
Massenerhebungseffekt
The fact that the same temperature and its related vegetation belt is found at higher elevations in central mountain ranges than in front ranges.
microclimate
The climate in and around organisms. The climate organisms actually experience
montane
Of the zone between the hill zone (coline) and the high elevation treeline ecotone, i.e. the vegetation of that zone.
treeline
The upper climate driven elevational limit of groups of trees of at least 3 m height, disregarding isolated individuals that may be found at even higher elevation

References

Cernusca A (1976) Bestandesstruktur, Bioklima und Energiehaushalt von alpinen Zwergstrauchbeständen. Oecol Plant 11:71-102
Körner Ch, Diemer M (1987) In situ photosynthetic responses to light, temperature and carbon dioxide in herbaceous plants from low and high altitude. Funct Ecol 1:179-194
Körner Ch (2003) Alpine Plant Life: functional plant ecology of high mountain ecosystems. Springer, Berlin (2nd edition)
Körner Ch, Paulsen J, Pelaez-Riedl S (2003) A bioclimatic characterisation of Europe's alpine areas. In: Nagy L, Grabherr G, Koerner Ch, Thompson DBA (eds) Alpine Biodiversity in Europe, Ecol Stud vol 167. Springer, Berlin
Meteotest (1995) Meteonorm. Verzeichnis der Globalstrahlung und der Temperatur für die Gemeinden der Schweiz. Bundesamt für Energiewirtschaft, Bern