Description
Subalpine and alpine areas are ecologically important zones that provide popular recreational opportunities for visitors to Mount Rainier (MORA), North Cascades (NOCA), and Olympic (OLYM) National Parks. The subalpine parkland is a mosaic of tree clumps and herbaceous meadows extending from forestline to treeline. The sparsely vegetated alpine zone continues up to the permanent ice and snow cover the peaks of the Cascades and Olympics. Collectively, the subalpine and alpine zones comprise the alpine treeline ecotone – a transition between the closed canopy forests below and bare rock or ice covering the mountain or ridge tops. Vegetation distribution and composition in this zone is primarily determined by low temperatures, snow depth, and duration of snow cover and therefore is very sensitive to climate change.
