In which mountains the altitudinal zonality is well expressed. Altitudinal zonality

Areas of high-altitude zoning or high-altitude zoning characterize natural stratification at different heights due to differences in environmental conditions. Temperature, humidity, soil composition, and solar radiation are important factors in determining altitude zones, which therefore support various plant and animal species. Altitude zoning was first put forward by the geographer Alexander von Humboldt, who noticed that the temperature drops with increasing altitude. Zoning also occurs in tidal and marine environments, as well as coastlines and marshes. Currently, high-altitude zoning is the main concept in mountain research.

Factors

A variety of environmental factors determine the boundaries of altitudinal zones (belts) in the mountains: from direct effects of temperature and precipitation to indirect characteristics of the mountain itself, as well as biological interactions of species. The reason for zoning is complex due to the many possible interactions and overlapping species.

The soil

The content of nutrients in soils at different altitudes further complicates the delineation of altitudinal zones. Soils with a higher nutrient content, due to higher decomposition rates or more weathering of rocks, better support the growth of large trees and vegetation. The height of the best soils depends on the particular mountain. For example, for mountains located in regions, lower elevations show less diversity of terrestrial species due to a thick layer of dead leaves that cover the forest floor. Acidic, humic soils are common in these areas, which exist at higher elevations in the mountainous or subalpine level. In another example, weathering discourages low temperatures at higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains in the western United States, resulting in thin, rough soils.

Climate:

Temperature

A decrease in air temperature usually coincides with an increase in altitude, which directly affects the length of the growing season in different zones. For mountains located in deserts, extreme high temperatures also limit the ability of large deciduous or coniferous trees to grow near the base of the mountains. In addition, plants can be particularly sensitive to soil temperature and are capable of specific elevation ranges that support healthy growth.

Humidity

The moisture content of certain zones, including precipitation levels, air humidity and evapotranspiration, varies with altitude and is an important factor in determining altitude zones. The most important variable is deposition at different heights. When warm, moist air rises up the windward side of the mountain, the air temperature and the ability to retain moisture decreases. Thus, the highest rainfall is expected at medium altitudes, allowing deciduous forests to grow. Above a certain height, the rising air becomes too dry and cold, and thus inhibits the growth of trees. Although rainfall may not be a significant factor for some mountains, air humidity or aridity is sometimes more important than climatic conditions that affect altitude zones. The general level of precipitation affects soil moisture.

Flora and fauna

Besides physical forces, biological forces can also create zoning. For example, a strong competitor can force a weaker competitor to move higher or lower. There is evidence that competing dominant plants can take over preferred locations (i.e., warmer areas or more fertile soils). Two other biological factors are also capable of influencing zoning: grazing and cross-impact, as the abundance of grazing animals and mycorrhizal associations suggest that they significantly affect the distribution of flora.

Solar radiation

Light is another important factor in the growth of trees and other photosynthetic vegetation. The Earth's atmosphere is filled with water vapor, particulate matter and gases that filter radiation from the Sun to the Earth's surface. Consequently, the peaks of mountains and hills receive much more intense radiation than the plains. Along with the arid conditions, at higher elevations, shrubs and grasses tend to thrive due to their small leaves and extensive root systems. However, frequent cloud cover is also encountered at high altitudes, which reduces high-intensity radiation.

Physical features

The physical characteristics and relative location of the mountain itself should also be considered when predicting altitude zoning models. This factor explains that the zoning of rainforests in the lower parts of the mountains may reflect the zoning expected in high mountainsbut belts arise at lower altitudes.

Other factors

In addition to the factors described above, there are a number of other features that can affect altitudinal zonality. These include: frequency of damage (such as fire or monsoons), wind speed, rock type, topography, proximity to streams or rivers, history of tectonic activity, and latitude.

What are the altitudinal zones?

The identification of altitudinal zones is complicated by the factors described above, and, therefore, the relative heights of each zone begin and end without reference to a certain height. However, it is possible to divide the altitude gradient into five main zones used by ecologists under different names. In some cases, these levels follow each other with decreasing height.

Nival belt (glaciers)

This belt of eternal snow and glaciers is the highest altitude belt in the mountains. It is located above the snow line and is covered with snow for most of the year. Vegetation is extremely limited, with only a few species present that grow on silica soils. The bottom is bordered by the alpine belt. The biotemperature of the nival belt does not exceed 1.5 ° C.

Plants and Animals

Small areas where there is no snow are subject to increased frost weathering, which leads to the presence of stones and gravel. In such conditions, algae, lichens and some flowering plants... Some insects and birds can also be found in this area.

Alpine belt

It is a zone that stretches between the subalpine belt in the south and the nival belt in the north. The Alpine belt is characterized by a significant degree of solar radiation, negative average annual temperatures, strong winds and stable snow cover. It includes alpine meadows and. The biotemperature of the belt is between 1.5 and 3 ° C.

Plants and Animals

The plants have adapted to the harsh alpine environment and are very hardy, but in some respects this ecosystem is quite fragile. The disappearance of tundra plants leads to weathering of the soil and its restoration can take hundreds of years.

Alpine meadows form where precipitation caused by weathering of rocks creates sufficiently well developed soils to support grasses and sedges. Alpine are quite common throughout the world, and the World Wildlife Fund has classified them as.

Animals that are found in the alpine belt can be both permanent inhabitants of this belt (senostavka, vole mouse, marmot), and temporary (argali, chamois antelope).

Subalpine belt

The subalpine belt is a biotic zone (life zone) located below the alpine belt and the border of the forest. The exact level of the forest boundary varies with the local climate. In the tropical regions of Southeast Asia, the tree line can be higher than 4000 m, while in Scotland it does not exceed 450 m.The biotemperature of the subalpine belt is within 3-6 ° C.

Plants and Animals

Trees in the subalpine zone are often stunted and twisted. Tree seedlings can sprout on the leeward (sheltered) side of rocks and grow in sheltered conditions. The snow cover protects the trees during the winter, but the exposed branches from the wind are usually destroyed. Well-adapted trees are capable of reaching an age of several hundred to a thousand years.

A typical subalpine forest includes rough fir (subalpine fir), Engelmann spruce and other coniferous trees. The subalpine flora is also characterized by the presence of plants from the family of cereals, forbs and tall grasses.

Due to the difficult climatic conditions and lack of food, animal world in this belt is not diverse enough. Nevertheless, in the subalpine belt there are representatives, bears, hares, martens and squirrels, as well as some species of birds.

Mountain belt

The mountain belt is located between the foothill and subalpine belts. The altitude from which one habitat changes to another varies in different parts the globe in different ways, especially in latitude. The upper border of mountain forests is often characterized by more hardy types of vegetation that are found in less dense stands. For example, in the Sierra Nevada, California, the mountain forest contains dense treelike pines and red fir, while the subalpine area of \u200b\u200bthe Sierra Nevada contains rare white pine trees.

The lower boundary of the mountainous zone may be the “lower forest line” that separates the mountain forest from the drier steppe or desert area.

Mountain forests are different from lowland forests in the same area. The climate of mountain forests is colder than the lowland climate at the same latitude, so species typical of high-latitude low-lying forests are often found in mountain forests.

Temperate climate

Mountain forests located in temperate climates are usually coniferous or deciduous and mixed forests. They are well known in northern Europe, the northern United States, and southern Canada. Trees, however, are often not identical with those further north: geology and climate give rise to various related species in mountain forests.

Mountain forests around the world tend to be richer in species than in Europe, as major European mountain ranges blocked the migration of species during the last ice age.

Mountain forests are found in the temperate climate of Europe (Alps, Carpathians, Caucasus, etc.), North America (Cascade Mountains, Klamath mountain range, Appalachian Mountains, etc.), in the southwest of South America, New Zealand and the Himalayas.

Mediterranean climate

These forests are usually mixed coniferous and deciduous forests with several types of conifers. Pine and juniper are typical trees found in the Mediterranean mountain forests. Broad-leaved trees are more diverse and often evergreen, such as the evergreen oak.

This type of forest is found in the Mediterranean Basin, North Africa, Mexico and the southwestern United States, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Subtropical and tropical climate

In the tropics, mountain forests can consist of deciduous forests in addition to conifers. One example of a tropical mountain forest is the foggy forest, which gets its moisture from clouds and fog. Foggy forests often have an abundance of mosses covering the ground and vegetation, in which case they are also called moss forests. Depending on latitude, the lower limit of mountainous rainforests on large mountains is usually 1,500 to 2,500 meters, while the upper limit is 2,400 to 3,300 meters.

Foothills

It is the lowest part of the mountains, which clearly differs in climate and is characterized by a wide range of names depending on the surrounding landscape. Such low-lying belts are found in tropical and desert regions.

Tropics

Characterized by deciduous forests in oceanic or temperate continental regions and grassland in more continental regions. They run from sea level to about 900 m. Vegetation is abundant and dense. This zone is a typical base layer for tropical regions.

Deserts

It is characterized by open evergreen oak and other forests most common in desert areas. Here there is a limitation of evaporation and soil moisture. Very common in the Southwest United States.

Desert meadows

Desert meadows are located below the desert belt and are characterized by varying densities of low-lying vegetation. These areas cannot support tree growth due to extreme aridity. Some desert areas are capable of supporting tree growth at the foot of the mountains, and thus, these areas do not form distinct grasslands.

Distribution of animals depending on altitude zones

Animals also exhibit zoning based on altitude zones. more clearly defined in the girdles because they are usually less mobile than vertebrates. animals often move to high altitude zones depending on the season and food availability. As a rule, the diversity and number of animal species decrease with increasing altitude due to more severe environmental conditions. It is difficult to study in detail the distribution of animals depending on altitudinal zones, since representatives of the fauna tend to frequently change their habitats.

Altitude zonality and human activity:

Agriculture

The human population has developed agricultural production strategies to take advantage of the different characteristics of high-altitude zones. Height, climate and soil fertility establish the list of crops that can be grown in each zone. Populations living in the mountainous Andes region of South America have taken advantage of the distinctive altitude conditions to grow a wide variety of crops.

Environmental degradation

Population growth leads to environmental degradation in high-altitude environments through deforestation and overgrazing. The increased availability of mountainous regions allows more people to travel between belts and use the land for commercial purposes. In addition, improved road access has contributed to environmental degradation.

Altitudinal zonation is a natural change in natural conditions and landscapes in the mountains as the absolute height (altitude above sea level) increases.
Altitudinal belt is a unit of altitudinal-zonal division of landscapes in mountains. The high-altitude belt forms a strip, which is relatively homogeneous in natural conditions, often discontinuous.

The attention of naturalists and geographers has long been attracted by the change of soil and vegetation as we climb the mountains. The first to draw attention to this as a general rule was the German natural scientist A. Humboldt (19th century).

In contrast to the plains in the mountains, both flora and fauna are 2-5 times richer in species. The number of altitudinal zones in the mountains depends on the height of the mountains and on their geographic location.

Change natural areas in the mountains it is often compared to moving across a plain from south to north. But in the mountains, the change in natural zones occurs more sharply and contrastingly and is felt at relatively short distances. The largest number of altitudinal zones can be observed in the mountains located in the tropics, the smallest - in the mountains of the same height as in the Arctic Circle.

The nature of the altitudinal zonation varies with the exposure of the slope, as well as with the distance of the mountains from the ocean. The mountains located near the sea coasts are dominated by mountain-forest landscapes. Treeless landscapes are typical for mountains in the central regions of the mainland.

Each high-altitude landscape belt surrounds mountains on all sides, but the system of tiers on opposite slopes of the ridges can be dramatically different.
Only at the mountain foothills are the conditions close to those typical for the neighboring plains. Above them are "floors" with a harsher nature. Above all is the layer of eternal snow and ice. The higher, the colder.

But there are exceptions. There are regions in Siberia where the climate at the foothills is more severe than on the overlying slopes.
This is due to stagnation of cold air at the bottom of intermontane basins.
The set of altitude zones is the greater, the further south the mountains are. This can be seen very well in the Urals. In the south of the Urals, where the heights are lower than in the Northern and Polar Urals, there are many altitudinal belts, and in the north there is only one mountain-tundra belt.
The altitudinal belts on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus are changing in a very contrasting way. In less than an hour, a car can lift hikers from the subtropics on the coast to the subalpine meadows.

The formation of types of altitudinal zonation of mountain systems is determined by the following factors:

The geographical position of the mountain system. The number of mountain high-altitude belts in each mountain system and their altitude position are basically determined by the latitude of the site and the position of the territory in relation to the seas and oceans. As we move from north to south, the altitude position of natural zones in the mountains and their set gradually increase. For example, in the Northern Urals, forests rise along the slopes to an altitude of 700-800 m, in the South - up to 1000-1100 m, and in the Caucasus - up to 1800-2000 m. The lowest belt in the mountain system is a continuation of the latitudinal zone located near foot.

The absolute height of the mountain system. The higher the mountains rise and the closer they are to the equator, the more altitudinal zones they have. Therefore, each mountain system develops its own set of altitudinal belts.

Relief. The relief of mountain systems (orographic pattern, degree of dissection and evenness) determines the distribution of snow cover, moisture conditions, preservation or removal of weathering products, affects the development of soil and vegetation cover and thereby determines the diversity of natural complexes in the mountains. For example, the development of alignment surfaces contributes to an increase in the areas of high-altitude belts and the formation of more homogeneous natural complexes.

Climate. This is one of the most important factors shaping the altitudinal zonation. With the rise in the mountains, temperature, humidity, solar radiation, wind direction and strength, types of weather change. The climate determines the nature and distribution of soils, vegetation, fauna, etc., and, consequently, the variety of natural complexes.

Exposition of slopes. It plays a significant role in the distribution of heat, moisture, wind activity, and, consequently, the processes of weathering and distribution of soil and vegetation cover. On the northern slopes of each mountain system, the altitudinal belts are usually located lower than on the southern slopes.

The position, changes in boundaries and the natural appearance of high-altitude belts are also influenced by human economic activity.

Already in the Neogene, latitudinal zones existed on the plains of Russia, almost analogous to modern ones, but due to the warmer climate, there were no zones of arctic deserts and tundras. In the Neogene-Quaternary time, significant changes in natural zones occur. This was caused by active and differentiated neotectonic movements, cooling of the climate and the emergence of glaciers in the plains and mountains. Therefore, natural zones shifted southward, the composition of their flora changed (strengthening of deciduous boreal and cold-resistant flora of modern coniferous forests) and fauna, the youngest zones were formed - the tundra and the Arctic desert, and in the mountains - the alpine, mountain-tundra and nival-glacial belts.

During the warmer Mikulin interglacial period (between the Moscow and Valdai glaciations), natural zones shifted to the north, and altitudinal belts occupied higher levels. At this time, the structure of modern natural zones and high-altitude belts is being formed. However, due to climate change in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, the boundaries of zones and belts shifted several times. This is confirmed by numerous relict botanical and soil finds, as well as spore-pollen analyzes of Quaternary deposits.

The set of altitudinal zones of a macro-slope (slope) of a mountainous country or a specific slope of a separate ridge is usually called a set or spectrum of belts. In each spectrum, the base is the landscape of the foothills of the mountains, close to the conditions of the horizontal natural zone in which this mountainous country is located. The combination of numerous factors influencing the structure of altitudinal zonation causes a complex differentiation of the types of altitude spectra. Even within one zone, the spectra of altitudinal zonality are often inhomogeneous; for example, they become richer as the mountains rise.

The structure of the altitudinal zonation of landscapes can be complete and cut off. The cut structure is observed in two cases: at a low altitude of the mountains, as a result of which the upper landscape belts, characteristic of this type of altitudinal zonation (Mountainous Crimea, the Middle Urals, etc.), fall out, and in high elevations, in which even river valleys lie on a large height, as a result of which the lower landscape belts fall out, which are part of this type of altitudinal zonation (Eastern Pamir, Central Tien Shan and some other regions).

The history of the formation of the altitudinal zonation of Russia

The formation of altitudinal zonation in the modern territory of the Russian Federation originates in the early Pleistocene, during the interglacial period (Valdai and Moscow icing). Due to repeated climatic transformations, the boundaries of the altitudinal zonation shifted several times. Scientists have proven that all modern mountain systems in Russia were originally located approximately 6 ° above their current position.

The altitudinal zonation of Russia led to the formation of mountain complexes - the Urals and the mountains of the south and east of the state (Caucasus, Altai, Baikal mountain ranges, Sayan). The Ural Mountains have the status of the most ancient mountain system in the world, their formation presumably began in the Archean period. The mountain systems of the south are much younger, but due to the fact that they are closer to the equator, they significantly dominate in terms of altitude.

Mount Klyuchevskaya Sopka in Kamchatka

Since ancient times, many naturalists and geographers have not ceased to be interested in the process of changing soil and vegetation as they climb the mountains. The first to draw attention to this was the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt. Since that time, this has been given a simple definition - altitudinal zonality. Characteristically, in the mountains, in contrast to the plains, the fauna and flora are much more diverse in relation to different species. Moreover, several belts are observed in this area. But what is altitudinal zonality, and what types of it exist? Let's figure it out in order.

Definition of the term

In another way, it is also called high-altitude zoning. This definition refers to the process of changing natural conditions and landscape in a natural way as the height above sea level increases. All this is due to climate change relative to the height of the mountain:

• The air temperature drops on average by 6 ° C for every kilometer of climb.
• The pressure level decreases.
• The amount of precipitation and cloudiness decreases.
• On the other hand, solar radiation is getting stronger.

This is how high-altitude belts are formed, which are a kind of units for dividing the landscape in the highlands. There is something similar between them and the latitudinal belts. However, not all high-altitude stripes have latitudinal analogs. For example, the belt of the mountain tundra and the latitudinal strip have significant differences between themselves. It lies in the absence of polar nights in the mountains, and therefore completely different hydroclimatic and soil-biological processes take place here.

Separation of mountain zones

The change of areas of high-altitude zonation in the mountainous area occurs in almost the same way as on the plain, if you look from south to north. However, the mountains are characterized by a sharp and contrasting change of belts. Moreover, this can be felt at a relatively short distance. Note that all belts are present only in those mountains that are located in the tropics or at the equator. The Andes and the Himalayas are examples of this. However, with approaching the poles, some warm zones disappear. Here, as an example, we can cite the Scandinavian mountains, where there are only three belts.

That is, the further south the mountains are, the more belts they have. And this is best seen in the mountain system in the Urals, where the heights are lower than in the northern and polar regions. Nevertheless, there are noticeably more high-altitude belts, while in the northern part there is only one - the mountain-tundra belt. The rate of change in the altitudinal zonality of the mountains depends on the nature of the relief and the distance of the mountainous area from the ocean. In other words, those mountains that are closest to the sea coast are characterized by a mountain-forest landscape. The mountains in the center of the mainland are distinguished by a small number of forests.

Some terrain is characterized by a more contrasting change in altitude zones. A striking example of this is the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. If you get around by car, then from the subtropics you can get to the subalpine meadows in less than an hour. At the same time, it does not do without some features. Typically, at the foot of the mountain, conditions are similar to those of the nearby plains. Higher up is the area with colder and harsher conditions. Above all, there is a tier of eternal snow and ice. And the higher, the lower the temperature. Things can be different in the Siberian mountains. That is, in some areas the climatic conditions at the foot are more severe than on the tiers above. This is due to the fact that cold air stagnates in the intermontane basins.

Varieties of zoning

It is better to understand what altitudinal zonality is, knowing its types will help. Two main groups of altitudinal zonation can be clearly distinguished:

• Primorskaya.
• Continental.

In the coastal group, there are mountain-forest belts in the lowlands, and the alpine belts are concentrated in the highlands. In the continental group, in the foothills, there is usually a desert-steppe belt, while in the highlands there is a mountain-meadow belt.

As for the examples, here they are:

• Primorsky type is the mountain system of the Western Caucasus. Here the mountain-forest belt is located at the very foot of the mountain, where there are broad-leaved and coniferous forests. Above, there is an alpine zone with the inclusion of subalpine crooked forests and tall grass meadows. The nival strip goes even higher.
• Continental type - the mountains of the Urals and Tan-Shan, in which the belts change from deserts (foot) to mountain steppes on the slopes. In some places there are mountain forests, meadows and alpine deserts. And above them there is a nival belt.

The formation of types of altitudinal zonality, or altitudinal zoning, is directly influenced by some factors. They will be discussed further.

Location

The number of altitudinal zones directly depends on the geographical position of a particular mountain system in relation to the seas and oceans. And as you move from north to south, the set of lanes increases.

For example, in the north of the Urals, forests rise to a height of no more than 700-800 meters. Whereas on the southern side the forest belt extends further - up to 1000-1100 meters. In the mountains of the Caucasus and even higher - forests can be found at an altitude of 1800-2000 meters. At the same time, the lowest belt is a continuation of the area that is located at the foot of the mountain.

Features of the relief

The relief of the mountains depends on:

• distribution of snow;
• humidity level; preservation or removal of weathering products;
• development of soil and vegetation cover.

All this leads to a variety of natural landscape. At the same time, more homogeneous natural complexes can be formed.

Absolute height

What is altitudinal zonality and how does it depend on altitude? The answer is quite simple: the closer the mountains are in relation to the equator, the higher they are. For this reason, there are much more altitudinal zones here. Each mountain system, depending on its location, has its own set of belts.

The nature of the mountain slopes

Slope exposure has a significant impact on the distribution of heat, moisture and wind. And therefore, the degree of weathering processes also depends on this parameter, which in turn affects the distribution of soil and vegetation cover. As a rule, any mountain on the northern slopes has altitudinal belts lower than those on the southern side.

Climatic conditions

Perhaps this is the most important factor that has a direct impact on the formation of altitudinal zonation in the mountains. With increasing height, many parameters change, which was already mentioned at the beginning of the article. Due to the climate, the distribution and intensity of not only the plant, but also the animal world is determined. What is altitudinal zonation? This is a whole variety of complexes created by the efforts of nature itself.

Types of mountain bands

The number of mountain bands (it is more correct to call them belts) depends not only on the height of the terrain, but also on the geographic location.

There are several types of altitude zones:

1. Desert-steppe. A dry climate prevails here, and therefore, mainly desert and steppe vegetation is concentrated. As a rule, it is located at the foot or low mountains. With the climb, the mountain-desert landscape gives way to the mountain-semi-desert landscape, followed by a transition to the mountain-steppe.

2. Mountain forest. This zone has the highest humidity level among all others. As for plants, deciduous, coniferous, mixed forests, grasses and shrubs are concentrated here, which is typical for middle latitudes. Among the fauna, a variety of herbivores, predators, insects and birds reign here.

3. Mountain meadow. This zone of high-altitude zonation unites several belts:

• Subalpine - this belt is characterized by alternation of subalpine meadows with light forests. There are also open landscapes and crooked forests.
• Alpine - this area is covered with grasses and creeping shrubs. In some places there are stone taluses. At the same time, a highland area is located above the forest and crooked forest. In a number of mountain systems, the alpine border is located at different heights: the Alps and Andes - 2.2 km, the mountains of the Eastern Caucasus - 2.8 km, the Tien Shan - 3 km, the Himalayas - above 3.6 km.

4. Mountain tundra. Here the winter is rather harsh, and the summer is short and cold. The average monthly temperature usually does not rise above +8 ° C. At the same time, there are strong winds that wave snow covers in winter and dry up the soil in summer. The vegetation here includes mosses, lichens and arcto-alpine shrubs.

5. Nivalny. This is already the uppermost zone of eternal glaciers and snow. Even the term itself, derived from the Latin word nivalis, means "snowy", "cold". The area, which is free of snow cover, is strongly affected by frost weathering. As for high-altitude plants, lichens, as well as single flowering grasses, find their refuge here in such harsh conditions. In rare cases, birds, insects, some species of rodents and predators wander into this area.

Thanks to such a number of high-altitude belts, a great variety of nature itself is obtained. As you know, many people like to travel the world, fixing their location using digital cameras or camcorders. But it is especially pleasant to be in the mountains. In one day, you can visit different stripes: from green forests to snow-white peaks. There will be a lot of impressions!

Altitudinal zonation of Russia

On the territory of our country, the altitudinal zonality began to form in the early Pleistocene during the interglacial. At that time, the area underwent repeated climatic transformations. And as a result - a shift in the boundaries of high-altitude zones, and this happened more than once. Scientists have found that the entire mountain system of the Russian Federation was previously located 6 ° higher than it is now.

Subsequently, whole complexes appeared: the mountains of the Urals, the Caucasus, Altai, the Baikal ridges, the Sayan Mountains. But as for the Ural Mountains, they are certainly the most ancient in the world. It is assumed that they began to form a very long time ago - in the Archean era. And it began about 4 billion years ago.

At that time, the Earth was very hot, many volcanoes acted on it, and it was periodically bombarded by meteorites from space. Thus, in some places the natural altitudinal zonation is very many years old.

Altitudinal zoning, altitudinal zoning is a change in natural landscapes and conditions in the mountains, as the height above sea level (absolute height) increases. Altitudinal zonation can be explained by climate change with altitude - with an ascent of one kilometer, the temperature drops on average by 5-6 degrees. This happens every kilometer - the air pressure decreases, it becomes cleaner, and solar radiation increases.

Each landscape zone is characterized by its own type of altitudinal zonation, has its own belt row, which is characterized by the number, sequence and altitude boundaries of the belts.

Altitude belts.

The nival belt is a belt of glaciers and eternal snow, the uppermost zone in the mountains. The nival belt reaches an altitude of 6500 m (Andes and Central Asia), and decreases, gradually reaching the level of the World Ocean in the Arctic and Antarctica. In the conditions of the belt, some species of algae and lichens live, and only some species of birds, rodents and insects come here.

The mountain-tundra belt is located between the nival and alpine belts. This belt is characterized by severe winters and short cool summers. Among the vegetation, you can find different types of mosses, shrubs and lichens.

The Alpine belt is an alpine zone, above the border of forests and crooked forests. Stone talus here alternate with bushes.

Subalpine belt (mountain meadow) - an area where subalpine meadows alternate with woodlands. Tall grasses and low shrubs, clarified forests and low-growing grasslands grow here.

The mountain-forest belt is the wettest belt in which forest landscapes prevail.

The desert-steppe belt is a belt of dry climate, desert and steppe.
Knowing the features of each of the belts, you can use them for the purposes of human management.

Mountain forests are forests that grow within individual mountain ranges or entire mountain systems. Just imagine the importance of mountain forests! They are the regulator of the water balance, and fix the slopes of the mountains, thereby preventing mudflows, and reducing the intensity of downpours, and have such properties as sanitary and hygienic, health-improving, landscape-forming, aesthetic and climate-forming.

With altitude, the air temperature decreases: in the Caucasus by about 6 degrees, and in the Pamirs - by all 9. Also, cold nights are replaced by hot days, thanks to sunlight.
Winds are of great importance and are often a good sign of worsening weather. At high altitudes, the wind force can reach up to 60 m / s (on the slopes of Elbrus).

The amount of precipitation increases with altitude in the mountains. And even if the foothills are very dry (the deserts of Central Asia), then on the slopes you can still observe a lot of rain, and on the tops there are huge glaciers.
At high altitudes, there is very bright sunlight, from which ultraviolet radiation can burn your eyes.
To know what to expect from the weather, you can look at some of the signs:
- cirrus clouds in the form of filaments and filaments approaching a warm front;
- circles around the sun or moon indicate the approach of precipitation;
- altocumulus clouds warn of worsening weather;
- the red color of the evening dawn indicates the approach of the front.

Going to the mountains, you should know what dangers can overtake.

- this is the most terrible danger in the mountains, because after falling under it, a person simply suffocates from the smallest particles of snow dust entering the respiratory tract, and wet avalanches are so heavy and fast moving that they do not give a chance for salvation.

Rockfalls are most common in summer. The fall of one stone can cause an avalanche of stones. Of course, the danger lies in the mass of stones and the speed with which they fall.

Icefalls. They never stop on their way and practically reach the foot of the mountains. The sight is very beautiful, but no less dangerous, which should not be forgotten!

Mudflows are suddenly starting streams that carry large amounts of loose soil, stones, sand, and debris.

Mountain animals live in the forest zone of the mountains. Their great advantage is that they can escape the cold by going down. Some, such as deer, climb high into the mountains, and for the winter they descend again under the protection of the forest. Others, having long hair and a warm coat, rarely descend from a height. The animals have adapted very well to life in such conditions - bighorn sheep and goats easily climb the rocks, the white hare and the tundra partridge change color to white for the winter, and in summer they camouflage themselves among the gray stones. And the Alpine salamander with black skin absorbs the sun's heat. Mountain snakes and lizards warm themselves on hot rocks in summer and hibernate in winter.
Most of the birds arrive here in the summer, and large birds are permanent residents.

Plants that have settled in the mountains live a very difficult life - severe cold weather, thorny winds and bright light. Above all, only small plants climb into the mountains. Why are the high-altitude plants low? The answer is simple - because harsh conditions prevent them from growing any longer. But their root system is very well developed, because it helps to withstand strong winds, to get the necessary water.

My acquaintance with high-altitude zonation happened while climbing the mountains. Although they did not differ in particular height, it was obvious how the surrounding nature gradually changed. I wondered why this is happening, and I decided to learn more about the altitude zones of the mountains.

What is altitudinal zonality

This concept means change of natural zones, as well as landscapes as the altitude rises above sea level. Essentially, it is relatively uniform stripes with characteristic conditions, however, they can also be intermittent. This phenomenon is caused by changes in climatic conditions in accordance with altitude.

What determines the number of high-altitude belts

The number is due to several factors. So:

• absolute height - as a rule, the higher the system and closer to the equator, the more belts are observed. A full range of belts are observed in the tropics and equatorial latitudes, such as the Andes;
• geographical position - in this case, the location relative to the ocean plays an important role. As you move south, the number of belts increases, but the lower belt is always identical to the area belt;
• relief - this factor is one of the key ones, because the number and nature of irregularities determine the distribution of the snow cover. The intensity of soil accumulation or weathering of rocks depends on this;
• climate - its change significantly affects the nature of natural complexes. For example, the temperature decreases with altitude, and the nature of the flora and fauna depends on this;
• the nature of the mountain slopes - for example, relative to the movement of air masses and illumination by the Sun.

Altitudinal zonation of Russia

Change of belts can be compared to driving north on a plain. For example, in the Caucasus, it is as if you are moving to the north, climbing higher and higher along the slope. In the end, upon reaching the top, only bare rocks, covered with eternal snows. Concerning mountain regions of Siberialocated inside the mainland, they are characterized by a harsh climate. Mainly grow here coniferous forests of the forest-steppe belt, which, as they rise, give way to tundra. For the outskirts of the mainland - the Kuriles, Kamchatka, Sakhalin - are characteristic thickets of dwarf cedar.