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Highland Climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line . This climate is also referred to as a mountain climate or highland climate.
In the Koppen climate classification, the alpine climate is part of "Group E", along with the polar climate , where no month has a meantemperture higher than 10 °C (50 °F).
Certain highland climates can also fit under the hemiborel climateor semi arid climate groups of climate classification.
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line . This climate is also referred to as a mountain climate or highland climate.
In the Koppen climate classification, the alpine climate is part of "Group E", along with the polar climate , where no month has a meantemperture higher than 10 °C (50 °F).
Certain highland climates can also fit under the hemiborel climateor semi arid climate groups of climate classification.
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Highland animalsThe San Bernardino Mountains are home to a rich variety of wildlife. Black bears, California mule deer, big horn sheep, and mountain lions are the largest of the mountain’s animals.Black bears, which can actually be honey brown, cinnamon brown, or black, are not native to these mountains. They were brought to the Big Bear area in 1934 from Yosemite National Park as a tourist attraction. Today there are about 250 living in the San Bernardino National Forest.
Clockwise from top left: Black bear cub, bighorn sheep, cougar, mule deer.
Small mammals include the coyote, raccoon, bobcat, several types of squirrels, skunk, chipmunks, grey fox and even beavers.
There are many species of birds as well. Several breeding pairs of bald eagles nest along the shores of Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Silverwood, and Lake Gregory. Red-tail hawks and ravens are often seen soaring on the warm air currents along the south slopes of the mountains. The deep blue Stellar’s jays, noisy scrub jays, black crows, many species of woodpeckers, towhees, chickadees, and juncoes also make the mountains their home.
A variety reptiles also live in the San Bernardino Mountains. The most common of these are the Western fence lizard and alligator lizards. There are several snakes, including the Mountain king snake, Southern rubber boa (endangered), Western rattler (poisonous), Mojave green rattler (poisonous), racers, and gopher snakes.
Clockwise from top left: Black bear cub, bighorn sheep, cougar, mule deer.
Small mammals include the coyote, raccoon, bobcat, several types of squirrels, skunk, chipmunks, grey fox and even beavers.
There are many species of birds as well. Several breeding pairs of bald eagles nest along the shores of Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Silverwood, and Lake Gregory. Red-tail hawks and ravens are often seen soaring on the warm air currents along the south slopes of the mountains. The deep blue Stellar’s jays, noisy scrub jays, black crows, many species of woodpeckers, towhees, chickadees, and juncoes also make the mountains their home.
A variety reptiles also live in the San Bernardino Mountains. The most common of these are the Western fence lizard and alligator lizards. There are several snakes, including the Mountain king snake, Southern rubber boa (endangered), Western rattler (poisonous), Mojave green rattler (poisonous), racers, and gopher snakes.
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Highland plantsSouthern California has a Mediterranean climate. This means that the weather is warm and dry in the summer, and cool and wet in the winter. The San Bernardino Mountains are well known for their lush forests of tall pine trees, but there are many other types of plants that live here.
On the dry south side of the mountain, chaparral bushes cover the steep slopes.Chaparral is a bush or shrub, usually evergreen, with leathery leaves and very deep roots. Many types have sharp thorns. They can live in poor soil with very little water. This group of plants include manzanitas, scrub oak, chamise, and wild lilac. These are often joined by yucca plants, with their sword-like leaves and tall spikes of creamy white flowers.Deep-rooted chaparral covers the southern face of
the San Bernardino Mountains.
Black oaks reach for sunlight from the cool, steep canyons.
Chaparral plants are important since their deep roots keep the soil in place, preventing mud slides and flooding. When soil washes or blows away, it is called erosion.In shaded canyons, the environment is very different. Ferns, herbs, and willow grow along little creeks under tall sycamore, live oak, white alder, elderberry, and big-leaf maple trees. Occasionally, big-cone spruce grows in shady ravines, with long, wide branches reaching for sunlight.
Along the rim of the mountains, especially from Crestline to Big Bear, ponderosa pine, sugar pine, Jeffrey pine, white fir, and incense cedar trees mix with black oak and dogwood to create the “yellow pine forest.” These beautiful woods have drawn many visitors to the mountains, beginning with Indian families thousands of years ago. Beyond the rim, on the very highest mountain tops, tough lodge pole and twisted limber pines dot the landscape.The yellow pine forest is a mixture of oak, fir, cedar, and pine trees.
Notice the dry landscape of the Mojave Desert caused by the rain shadow effect.
Over the ridge of the mountain, the plants gradually change to adapt to the very dry habitat of the Mojave Desert. This is because the mountains block rain clouds from getting over them. This effect is called a “rain shadow.” Some of these hardy plants are pinion pine, western junipers, and Joshua trees. You may have tasted the seeds of the pinion pine. They are often roasted and sold as “pine nuts."
On the dry south side of the mountain, chaparral bushes cover the steep slopes.Chaparral is a bush or shrub, usually evergreen, with leathery leaves and very deep roots. Many types have sharp thorns. They can live in poor soil with very little water. This group of plants include manzanitas, scrub oak, chamise, and wild lilac. These are often joined by yucca plants, with their sword-like leaves and tall spikes of creamy white flowers.Deep-rooted chaparral covers the southern face of
the San Bernardino Mountains.
Black oaks reach for sunlight from the cool, steep canyons.
Chaparral plants are important since their deep roots keep the soil in place, preventing mud slides and flooding. When soil washes or blows away, it is called erosion.In shaded canyons, the environment is very different. Ferns, herbs, and willow grow along little creeks under tall sycamore, live oak, white alder, elderberry, and big-leaf maple trees. Occasionally, big-cone spruce grows in shady ravines, with long, wide branches reaching for sunlight.
Along the rim of the mountains, especially from Crestline to Big Bear, ponderosa pine, sugar pine, Jeffrey pine, white fir, and incense cedar trees mix with black oak and dogwood to create the “yellow pine forest.” These beautiful woods have drawn many visitors to the mountains, beginning with Indian families thousands of years ago. Beyond the rim, on the very highest mountain tops, tough lodge pole and twisted limber pines dot the landscape.The yellow pine forest is a mixture of oak, fir, cedar, and pine trees.
Notice the dry landscape of the Mojave Desert caused by the rain shadow effect.
Over the ridge of the mountain, the plants gradually change to adapt to the very dry habitat of the Mojave Desert. This is because the mountains block rain clouds from getting over them. This effect is called a “rain shadow.” Some of these hardy plants are pinion pine, western junipers, and Joshua trees. You may have tasted the seeds of the pinion pine. They are often roasted and sold as “pine nuts."