The climate of a coniferous forest depends upon where it is located. In general, the more northerly the latitude, the cooler the climate. The presence of mountain ranges and oceans also effects the climate of an area. In Japan, for example, Siberian air masses bring severe winters to some forests, while other forests are influenced by warm ocean currents and have a more tropical climate.

Boreal Forest/Taiga

The most severe climate is found in the boreal forest, or taiga, where temperatures are below freezing for more than half of the year. Winter temperatures range from -65° to 30°F (-54° to -1°C), and summer temperatures from 20° to 70°F (-7° to 21°C). However, because the taiga is a land of extremes, temperatures can drop as low as -76°F (-60°C) in winter or climb as high as 104°F (40°C) in summer.

The greater portion of precipitation (rain...