coldregion

Coldregion is a broad geographic concept that includes polar regions and high-altitude environments where temperatures are persistently low and the growing season is short. It typically covers the Arctic and Antarctic zones, subarctic boreal regions, and alpine zones at high elevations. The exact boundaries vary by definition, but the term is used in climatology, ecology, and resource management to describe areas dominated by cold climate and cryospheric processes such as permafrost and seasonal snow cover.

Climate and geography: Winters are long and harsh, summers brief and cool, with limited sunshine in high latitudes. Precipitation is variable, often concentrated as snow, and much of the terrain is characterized by cryosphere conditions, including permafrost in lowland and taliks in thawing soils. Elevation creates alpine cold regions where tree lines retreat and glaciers persist.

Ecosystems: Cold regions host tundra, boreal forests, and alpine ecosystems with specialized flora and fauna adapted to short growing seasons and extreme cold. Common adaptations include reduced size, insulation, and seasonal reproduction. Human communities, such as Indigenous peoples in the Arctic, rely on subsistence activities, while other cold regions support mining, energy, and scientific research.

Environmental change and challenges: Climate change is disproportionately affecting cold regions through accelerated warming, permafrost degradation, sea ice loss, and shifts in species distributions. These changes influence infrastructure, water resources, and traditional livelihoods. Research and monitoring programs, including international collaborations, focus on cryosphere dynamics, geomorphology, and sustainable management.