Defining the cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere

Abstract : The boundaries of the cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere are located by using parameters of air temperature, snow depth, ice cover, and frozen ground. Each parameter is discussed in detail and references used to develop four Northern Hemisphere cold regions maps are given. In all mountainous areas where few reporting stations exist, specific elevations or ridge lines were used to locate the limits of certain zones. In some areas, for example Greenland and expansive bodies of water, no isopleths were drawn because the parameter was not applicable or because of insufficient information. It is concluded that nearly all of the land mass north of 40 degrees lies within the cold regions, and that nearly half of the land mass in the Northern Hemisphere can be classified as cold regions. (Author)