[4] Rhizocarpon superficiale predominantly grows on rock surfaces, particularly in harsh environments like arctic and alpine regions, although it can occasionally be found in more temperate zones.

[5] Ecologically, Rhizocarpon superficiale inhabits a niche that allows it to experience a microclimate significantly warmer than the ambient air due to its proximity to the ground.

During chinook wind events, for instance, the lichen experiences swift transitions from heavy snowfall to melting conditions, leading to brief but significant periods of hydration essential for photosynthesis and carbon gain throughout the year.

[5] This lichen's ecological success is further evidenced by its ability to remain hydrated across all seasons, a rarity in alpine environments where low temperatures typically prevail.

The periods of hydration, crucial for the lichen's metabolic processes, occur during varied weather patterns, including the unpredictable chinook winds which dramatically alter the microclimate.