Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 4.2
Circumpolar arctic region vegetation (Source: D.A. Walker)
Fig. 4.3
A two-dimensional classifi cation of southern circumpolar vegetation (Longton
1979
)
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has been referred to as the “Third Pole.” The plateau
has an average elevation of 4,000 m, covers an area of 2.5 million km
2
, and has an
estimated 1.3 million km
2
of permafrost. The plant communities on the QTP are
commonly subdivided into alpine steppe, alpine meadow, and alpine cushion plants
(Wu et al.
2012
) (Fig.
4.4
).
