About the Project

The Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map (CAVM) shows the types of vegetation that occur across the Arctic, between the ice-covered Arctic Ocean to the north and the northern limit of forests to the south. Environmental and climatic conditions are extreme, with a short growing season and low summer temperatures. The region support plants such as dwarf shrubs, herbs, lichens and mosses, which grow close to the ground. As one moves southward (outward from map’s center in all directions), the amount of warmth available for plant growth increases considerably. Warmer summer temperatures cause the size, abundance, and variety of plants to increase. Climate and other environmental controls, such as landscape, topography, soil chemistry, soil moisture, and the available plants that historically colonized an area, also influence the distribution of plant communities (see other side).

The colors on the map indicate the differences that occur in the general outward appearance of vegetation (physiognomy). The CAVM team grouped over 400 described plant communities into 15 different physiognomic units based on plant growth forms. The insert diagram (upper left) shows the relationship between the map units (except for B2, B3 and B4, which are baren rock or mountain complexes) and the principal environmental controls, summer temperatures and site moisture. The total area of each map unit (in square kilometers) is summarized in the bar chart (upper right).

An international team of arctic vegetation scientists representing the six countries of the Arctic—Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, and the United States—prepared the map. The methods used to create the map, more detailed descriptions of the map units, and additional maps and information are on the reverse side. The CAVM has received several publishing awards.