subarctic

American  

[suhb-ahrk-tik, -ahr-tik] / sʌbˈɑrk tɪk, -ˈɑr tɪk /

Sometimes sub-Arctic

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, similar to, or being the region immediately south of the Arctic Circle; subpolar.

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subarctic British  

/ sʌbˈɑːktɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to latitudes immediately south of the Arctic Circle

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subarctic Scientific  

/ sŭb′-ärk′tĭk,-är′tĭk /

1. Relating to the geographic area just south of the Arctic Circle. The subarctic region is the coldest part of the North Temperate Zone, characterized by warm but very brief summers, and bitterly cold winters. Little vegetation exists in this climate, as temperatures are extreme, ranging from below −30°C (−22°F) in the winter and as warm as 30°C (86°F) in the summer.

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Etymology

Origin of subarctic

First recorded in 1850–55; sub- + Arctic

Example Sentences

As you ascend, you pass through multiple climates and ecosystems, cross the U.S.–Canada border, and head into the subarctic.

From Salon

Although the subarctic conditions of Newfoundland did yield materials chemically analogous to those in Gale Crater, this did not happen in the warmer climates like California and Nevada.

From Salon

In this study, the researchers visited a subarctic grassland in Iceland that has undergone over half a century of geothermal warming, resulting in elevated soil temperatures compared to surrounding areas.

From Science Daily

Calendula is cultivated in gardens worldwide from subarctic regions to the tropics.

From National Geographic

They usually reside in Arctic and subarctic latitudes — and, when venturing south, they stick to high altitudes — because they rely on snowfall to survive.

From Salon