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Snow Ecology

Photograph of an Arctic hare

The Arctic hare grows a thick coat of white fur that keeps it warm during the cold winters and also helps prevent predators from seeing it in snowy landscapes.
—Credit: Cathy Haglund, flickr

Ecology is the study of the complex ways that living things interact with their environment. In regions that receive a lot of snow, plants and animals have to cope with unique challenges. For example, how do animals find food in the snow? And how do plants survive through the winter?

To survive in places with snow, living things have evolved some interesting adaptations.

moreFor more information see Snow Resources.

 

 

See Also

Education Resources

Online map tools, video, printed, and printable materials. Photographs, animations, and more.

Cryosphere Glossary

Find terms and definitions relating to snow and ice.

Cold Links

Search for Earth system education materials.


Related Resources

Tour of the Cryosphere Movie

Greenland Melt Extent 2005

NSIDC's State of the Cryosphere: Northern Hemisphere Snow

NASA Earth Observatory Reference: Global Warming

Near-real-time snow data

Is there fresh snow at the ski hill? Visit NSIDC Scientist Drew Slater's site for SNOTEL station snow data in the Western U.S., updated hourly.