Plant growth form and canopy structure determine microclimate
1 -
Life conditions in and above a
Loiseleuria procumbens
stand.
Plants manipulate the climate. The climate plants experience differs widely from that reported by weather stations.
The closer to the ground and the denser the vegetation, the warmer: creepers, cushions, carpets work as solar heat collectors.
2 -
Plant canopy temperatures along a profile of increasing wind exposure in the
central Alps (Tirol).
Rhododendron
is sheltered and deeply covered by snow in winter. Carpets of
Loiseleuria
are found at the wind-blown end of the transect.
Vaccinium
heath holds an intermediate position. The
black area
indicates the amplitude between daily minimum and maximum temperatures, the
white stripe
in the lowest diagram shows the amplitude in -10 cm soil temperature.
White bars
mark the duration of snow cover
(Cernusca 1976).
