Question

The Alps have a snowline of about 2700 m above sea level while the mountains in Greenland have a snowline of about 600 m. What could be the reason for this?

• A. Greenland experiences a colder climate due to the cold trans-Atlantic winds.
• B. The Alps are young fold mountains while the mountains of Greenland are block mountains.
• C. The air in the Alps has higher pressure that generates heat, and melts the snow at lower altitudes.
• D. The Alps being closer to the equator experiences a comparitively warmer climate.

Answer 1

The correct option is D The Alps being closer to the equator experiences a comparitively warmer climate.

The temperature decreases as the distance from the equator increases. This implies that the snowline can be reached at lower altitudes near the poles as compared to places towards the equator. Hence, the Alps located at 47 degrees North have a higher snowline as compared to Greenland, a region at 72 degrees North.