ubac

Definitions

The shady side of a mountain; in the northern hemisphere, especially a north-facing slope.

Equivalents

Examples

“The distribution of barley is generally on the adret slope, the ubac seeming to be disregarded. A sunny slope is the most important natural factor in the cultivation of barley and wheat. Very rarely they are cultivated in ubac fields, but close⟳ investigation showed them to be of secondary adret nature. In this case seeds are sown a month earlier and mown ten days later than on the adret slope.”

“Viticulure in an alpine (Savoie) or sub-alpine environment (like⟳ the Jura) is a precarious activity […] Exposure, by contrast, exaggerates or modifies the quantity of the altitudinal elements in terms of ubac (shady) versus adret (sunny) positions, wet⟳ and dry positions, or windy and protected positions, respectively. The advantages of adret slopes, which are usually drier and more protected, are evident and of paramount importance. Adret aspects receive⟳ much higher levels of direct⟳ sunlight, which produces higher soil and plant⟳ temperatures.”

CEFR level