Alaska Arctic Tundra Vegetation Map
AVHRR false-color composite image -
Vegetation Units -
Bioclimate Subzones -
Floristic Provinces
Substrate Chemistry -
Elevation -
Lake Cover -
Maximum NDVI and Phytomass
Bioclimate Subzones
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The AATVM is nearly identical to the Alaska portion of the Bioclimate Subzone map of the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map. Three bioclimate subzones occur in Alaska. Only the boundaries of the map and the scale are changed.
The Arctic Tundra Bioclimate Zone is subdivided into five subzones (A-E). The southern three subzones occur in Alaska (C-E). As one goes from north to south, and farther from the ocean, summer temperatures increase, along with size, horizontal cover, abundance, productivity and variety of plants. Shrub height is a key distinguishing feature of each subzone. Only hemiprostrate and prostrate dwarf shrubs (‹15 cm tall) occur in Subzone C, along the northern coast of Alaska where mean July temperatures are about 5-7 °C. Erect dwarf shrubs (‹40 cm tall) occur in Subzone D where the mean July temperatures are about 7-9 °C. Low shrubs (40-200 cm tall) occur in Subzone E where mean July temperatures are about 9-12 °C. The southern boundary of Subzone E is treeline, where the mean July temperatures are about 10-12 °C and woody shrubs up to 2 m tall are abundant (Walker 2005).
See the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map for a complete description of the bioclimate subzones:
AATVM Subzone Descriptions
The AATVM subzone descriptions list Alaska plant communities along a toposequence on acidic and non-acidic substrates; in subzones C, D and E; in Northern Alaska, Beringian Alaska and Northern Beringian Island floristic provinces. Blocks of rows are positions along a mesotopographic gradient (see Mesotopographic gradient). Dominant plant functional types and species are listed where data were available. Literature citations (in small font) include unit names, habitat, citation and location.