1.2.2.6 Tundra

Definition: Treeless ecosystems beyond the limit of boreal forest and above the altitude limit of trees in high mountain ranges. The tundra vegetation consists primarily of grasses, sedges, small flowering herbs, low shrubs, lichen, and mosses. Permafrost occurs almost everywhere beneath the vegetative cover.

Definition Source: A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for Use with Remote Sensing Data

Tundra Categories:

1.2.2.6.1 Bare Ground Tundra: Those tundra ecosystems that are less than one-third vegetated. It usually consists of sites visually dominated by considerable areas of exposed bare rock, sand, or gravel interspersed with low herbaceous and shrubby plants. (Definition Source: A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for Use with Remote Sensing Data)

1.2.2.6.2 Herbaceous Tundra: Those ecosytems composed of various sedges, grasses, forbs, lichens, and mosses, all of which lack woody stems. A wide variety of such herbaceous types may be found in close proximity on the tundra. (Definition Source: A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for Use with Remote Sensing Data)

1.2.2.6.3 Mixed Tundra: Those tundra ecosystems in which any one type of tundra system (shrub and brush, herbaceous, bare ground or wet) occupies less than two-thirds of the land area. (Definition Source: A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for Use with Remote Sensing Data)

1.2.2.6.4 Shrub and Brush Tundra: Those ecosystems that consist of the various woody shrubs and brushy thickets found in the tundra environment. These occur in dense-to-open evergreen and deciduous thickets. (Definition Source: A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for Use with Remote Sensing Data)

1.2.2.6.5 Wet Tundra: Those tundra ecosystems in which standing water is almost always present during months when temperatures average above the freezing level. Numerous shallow lakes, sedges and rooted aquatic plants are common and permafrost usually is close to the surface. (Definition Source: A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for Use with Remote Sensing Data)