“Here we are standing in the heart of the research lab in a subalpine dry meadow covered in snow- the beginning of more to come over the winter months. This snowpack is the primary control on soil moisture availability, growing season length, and plant community structure.”
Contact Information:
Affiliation (e.g., university, agency, non-profit): non-profit
Field Station, Marine Lab or Field Site Name: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory
Website of Field Station, Marine Lab: https://www.rmbl.org
Contact: Katie Lawn, Youth Programs Manager
Contact Email: katielawn@rmbl.org
Video Information:
Video Developed by: Sophia TodorovDate of Video Recording: 12/21/2025
Time of Day Video Recorded: 12:00 pm
Season: Winter
Content Topics: Habitat - Abiotic, Habitat - Other, Processes - Water, Processes - Wind, Processes - Latitude and Elevational Gradients, Processes - Other
Video Site Number: Site 1
North Orientation: a piece of yellow flagging tied onto the tripod
Location and Environment
Country: United States of AmericaState: Colorado
Latitude: 38.95861111, -106.98888889
Longitude: 38.95861111, -106.98888889
Elevation: 7,500-10,000 ft
Slope: Flat
Aspect: None
Human Elements: buildings, roads, fences
Climate Zones: Dry
Biomes: Shrubland
Habitat Types: Terrestrial
Vegetation Types: Rocky Mountain subalpine meadows are high-elevation, lush herbaceous communities found between 9,000 and 11,500 feet, featuring dense, diverse wildflowers and grasses surrounded by spruce–fir forests. They occur on gentle to moderate slopes with moist, snow-fed soils, often forming mosaics with woodlands and alpine zones. In winter, these meadows are buried under deep, persistent snowpack that can last for much of the year, insulating soils and vegetation from extreme cold and wind.
Additional Data:
Associated 360 Degree Videos Content:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16kJbhms48y60blrQZjVnWis6GJ5n95FL/view?usp=drive_link
Quadrats:
No
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