BSc (Hons) Environmental Science (17-21)
Krumholz comes from the German words for “crooked” and “timber”. It describes a particular form of stunted, malformed tree found in subalpine, subarctic conditions. These trees are shaped by continuous exposure to strong, freezing wind. The Krumholz Zone describes the altitude or area of exposure which enables this growth pattern to occur. The focus of a piece of fieldwork sought to identify the ‘beginning’ of The Krumholz Zone within an area of The Cairngorms, and the factors which determined when and why Scotts Pines (Pinus Sylvestris) began to grow in this manner.
Krumholz comes from the German words for “crooked” and “timber”. It describes a particular form of stunted, malformed tree found in subalpine, subarctic conditions. These trees are shaped by continuous exposure to strong, freezing wind. The Krumholz Zone describes the altitude or area of exposure which enables this growth pattern to occur. The focus of a piece of fieldwork sought to identify the ‘beginning’ of The Krumholz Zone within an area of The Cairngorms, and the factors which determined when and why Scotts Pines (Pinus Sylvestris) began to grow in this manner.
Academic
The research concluded that whilst altitude was the greatest factor causing change in tree morphology, exposure to prevailing wind and isolation from protective land features also generated irregular growth patterns at lower altitudes.
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The research concluded that whilst altitude was the greatest factor causing change in tree morphology, exposure to prevailing wind and isolation from protective land features also generated irregular growth patterns at lower altitudes.
Environmental Science
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