Alpine climate

Alpine climate is the cold, often rapidly changing climate of high-elevation mountain environments. It is shaped chiefly by altitude and local topography.

Environmental lapse rate: The rate at which air temperature changes with increasing altitude in the atmosphere. Falling air temperature with elevation is a basic reason mountain climates are cold.
Freezing level: The altitude in the atmosphere at which air temperature reaches 0 °C. Its seasonal height helps determine where precipitation falls as snow or rain.
Glacier: A persistent mass of ice formed from accumulated snow that moves under its own weight. Glaciers store alpine snowfall and respond to long-term shifts in mountain temperature.
Glacier retreat: The long-term loss of glacier area or thickness when ice loss exceeds accumulation. Rising temperatures have accelerated the loss of ice in many alpine regions.
Orographic lift: The forced ascent of air over terrain, often cooling it and producing clouds or precipitation. Mountain slopes lift moist air, creating strong differences in precipitation across ridges.
Snowline: The lowest elevation at which snow remains on the ground throughout the year. The snowline marks a visible boundary shaped by alpine temperature and snowfall.
Avalanche: A rapid flow of snow down a slope, often triggered by loading, warming, or disturbance. Changing snowpack conditions make avalanches a major alpine hazard.
Permafrost degradation: The warming, thawing, or loss of ground that was previously perennially frozen. Thawing alpine ground can destabilize slopes and damage mountain infrastructure.
Rain shadow: A dry region on the leeward side of a mountain range, where descending air has lost moisture. Leeward slopes can be far drier than windward slopes at similar elevations.
Treeline: The upper elevation or latitude limit beyond which trees cannot grow because conditions are too harsh. Its elevation reflects the growing-season constraints imposed by mountain climate.

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