coastaltomountain

Coastaltomountain is a conceptual framework in physical geography and ecology that describes the environmental gradient from coastal zones to inland mountainous regions. The term, a portmanteau of coastal and mountain, emphasizes the continuity of climate, geology, hydrology, and biota across dramatic changes in elevation and proximity to the sea. It is used to study how offshore conditions interact with inland topography to shape landscapes, ecosystems, and human use along a single transect.

Along coastaltomountain transects, a maritime climate typically gives way to more continental conditions with increasing elevation. Sea-level temperature and humidity decrease with altitude, while orographic rainfall concentrates on windward slopes. Fog, marine air, and wind patterns create distinct microclimates and moisture regimes that influence vegetation zones, soils, and geomorphology. The gradient also encompasses geological history, from coastal sediments and dunes to bedrock uplift, glaciation, and soil development that vary with altitude.

Biotic communities shift from estuarine and coastal habitats—such as beaches, mangroves or salt marshes, and early-successional dunes—to forested and alpine ecosystems at higher elevations. Species turnover and habitat connectivity along the transect are central to studies of biodiversity, endemism, and climate refugia. Human land use, including fisheries, forestry, tourism, and agriculture, often mirrors the coastaltomountain gradient, creating spanning pressures and opportunities for conservation planning and sustainable management.

Coastaltomountain serves as a heuristic for comparative studies, enabling researchers to examine ecological transitions, resilience to climate change, and landscape management across different regions with similar topographic structures. It is not a single place but a framework applicable to coast-to-mountain systems worldwide.