Notes on Wind and its Effects in Arctic-Alpine Vegetation

In arctic and alpine regions, wind is often an important or dominant factor in controlling the growth and character of the vegetation. In temperate lands the influence of wind is less obvious, but shelterbelt experience and experimental work show that here, too, wind has a widespread effect on plant growth. It is surprising, therefore, that very few quantitative observations have been made either on wind behaviour or on its effects on growth in natural vegetation; and in these circumstances it seems worth recording here some simple observations on these subjects made in three arctic-alpine regions.