Tierra helada
Encyclopedia
Tierra helada is a term used in Latin America
to refer to the highest places found within the Andes
mountains.
Tierra helada is for the Montane grasslands and shrublands
, Suni
s, Punas and Paramo
s between the Treeline and the Snow line
. The term "Tierra nevada" is accurate from a climatological standpoint, as its land is indeed "frozen," situated above the snow line
. In the northern Andes, the latter is located at an altitude
of approximately 15,000 ft (or about 4,500 m).
The peruvian geograph Javier Pulgar Vidal (Altitudinal zonation
) used following altitudes:
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
to refer to the highest places found within the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
mountains.
Tierra helada is for the Montane grasslands and shrublands
Montane grasslands and shrublands
Montane grasslands and shrublands is a biome defined by the World Wildlife Fund. The biome includes high altitude grasslands and shrublands around the world....
, Suni
Suni
Suni is a very small species of antelope. It occurs in south-east Africa in dense underbrush.Suni are around 12-17 inches high at the shoulder and weigh 10-12 pounds . They are usually reddish brown, darker on their back than their sides and legs. The belly, chin, throat and insides of legs are...
s, Punas and Paramo
Páramo
The term páramo can refer to a variety of ecosystems. Some ecologists describe the páramo broadly as “all high, tropical, montane vegetation above the continuous timberline”. A more narrow term classifies the páramo according to its regional placement - specifically located in “the northern Andes...
s between the Treeline and the Snow line
Snow line
The climatic snow line is the point above which snow and ice cover the ground throughout the year. The actual snow line may seasonally be significantly lower....
. The term "Tierra nevada" is accurate from a climatological standpoint, as its land is indeed "frozen," situated above the snow line
Snow line
The climatic snow line is the point above which snow and ice cover the ground throughout the year. The actual snow line may seasonally be significantly lower....
. In the northern Andes, the latter is located at an altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
of approximately 15,000 ft (or about 4,500 m).
The peruvian geograph Javier Pulgar Vidal (Altitudinal zonation
Altitudinal zonation
Altitudinal zonation in mountainous regions describes the natural layering of ecosystems that occurs at distinct altitudes due to varying environmental conditions. Temperature, humidity, soil composition, and solar radiation are important factors in determining altitudinal zones, which consequently...
) used following altitudes:
- 1,000 m as the border between the Tropical Rain forest and the Subtropical Cloud forest
- 2,300 m as the end of the Subtropical Cloud forest (Yunga fluvial)
- 3,500 m as the Treeline
- 4,800 m as the Puna end
See also
- Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classificationThe Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
- Altitudinal zonationAltitudinal zonationAltitudinal zonation in mountainous regions describes the natural layering of ecosystems that occurs at distinct altitudes due to varying environmental conditions. Temperature, humidity, soil composition, and solar radiation are important factors in determining altitudinal zones, which consequently...
- Tierra calienteTierra calienteTierra caliente is a pseudo-climatalogical term used in Latin America to refer to those places within that realm which have a distinctly tropical climate...
, Ecoregion border: 2,500 ft or 1,000 m (Javier Pulgar Vidal) - Tierra templadaTierra templadaTierra templada is a pseudoclimatological term used in Latin America to refer to places within that realm which are either located in the tropics at a moderately high elevation, or are marginally outside the astronomical tropics, producing a somewhat cooler overall climate than that found in the...
, Ecoregion border: 6,000 ft or 2,300 m (Javier Pulgar Vidal) - Tierra friaTierra fríaTierra fría is a pseudoclimatological term used in parts of Latin America to refer to mountain locations within that cultural realm, where high elevation results in a markedly cooler climate than that encountered in the lowlands at a comparable latitude.To a climatologist, the term is inaccurate,...
, Ecoregion border, Treeline: 12,000 ft or 3,500 m (Javier Pulgar Vidal)