6533b7d4fe1ef96bd12626d7

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Relationships between vegetation, air and soil temperatures on Norwegian mountain summits

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ABSTRACTGeographic variations in air and soil temperatures are dependent on several biotic and abiotic factors. Air temperature has mostly been used to characterize thermal conditions for plant life, and studies of bioclimatic gradients. From a biological point of view, it is also essential to know to what extent soil temperature is coupled with air temperature. In this study, we have quantified the deviations between soil and air temperatures along gradients in latitude, altitude, and possible effects of the vegetation. Sixteen different temperature variables were estimated from 49 vegetation plots on 19 mountain summits along the high mountain range in Norway, ranging from 230 to 1780 m a.s.l., and from 59°N to 71°N. Soil and air temperature variables were estimated from the study plots during one year. All air and soil temperature variables were significantly correlated, but the rate of explanation was mostly relatively low (37.0–60.0%), except during the growing season. Start of the growing season, de...