|
Description: |
DISTRIBUTION
: The MHwh occurs at high elevations on
the Queen Charlotte Islands (QCI) and in
hypermaritime areas of the coast, north
of Smith Inlet. The elevational limits range
from approximately 500 to 900m. CLIMATE:
The MHwh has long, very wet, cold winters
and short, cool, moist summers. When a North
Pacific high pressure system dominates the
coast, this area has marine cloud for at
least the early part of most days. Frozen
soils are rare due to the insulating snowpack,
but growing season frosts are common. Total
snowfall is high, resulting in substantial
snowpacks that can persist into July.
VEGETATION: Forests on zonal sites are
dominated by Hm and Yc (Ba on the mainland
only), with Alaskan blueberry, Rhytidiadelphus
loreus, Hylocomium splendens, Scapania bolanderi,
and Sphagnum girgensohnii common in the
understorey. Vegetation and stand characteristics
in the MHwh are strongly influenced by local
topography, which affects timing and pattern
of snowmelt. Upper elevations grade into
discontinuous forests of the parkland subzone.
|
