A High Elevation Climate Monitoring Network Kelly T. Redmond Western Regional Climate Center Desert Research Institute Reno Nevada AGU San Francisco
WRCC / OSU
Nevada Precip-Elevation Distribution 100% 90% 80% 70% Elevation Precipitation % of Total 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 Elevation (m) %Total PPT Elev % Courtesy of Chris Daly, OSU, Based on PRISM.
P Potential effects of global warming on the Sacramento / San Joaquin watershed and the San Francisco estuary Noah Knowles and Dan Cayan, Climate Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography T 6 C
2040-2060, BAU Scenario. PCM (NCAR/DOE). Ctsy Bill Pennell, Ruby Leung, PNNL. April 1 Snow Water Equivalent on right. Extreme Precipitation / Snowpack Changes
Trends 1966+ Annual, Full Year. Trends 1966+ Feb-Mar-Apr Source: Climate Prediction Center
Grids. Reanalysis Resolution: Global Regional (slightly smaller; pixel resolution) Desired Resolution About 1 km
Sierra Jan-Dec 600 mb Temp (14,000 ft)
Sierra Jan-Dec 700 mb Temp (10,000 ft)
Sierra Oct-Mar 700 mb Temp (10,000 ft) Freezing
Sierra Mar-May 700 mb Temp (10,000 ft) Freezing
Sierra March 700 mb Temp (10,000 ft) Freezing
Kelly Redmond, WRCC. Graphics Courtesy of Climate Diagnostics Center. Reanalysis Cross Sections 34-38 N from 90 to 130 W Potential Temperature Trend Jan-Dec 1948-2001 Jan-Dec 1970-2001 Mar-May 1970-2001
Why is high elevation climate undersampled? Harsh physical environment Sensors and equipment Maintenance Access Communications Time Budgets Human presence limited, often seasonal. Electrical power for heating often not available Permitting, aesthetics, wilderness, etc Most precipitation is frozen
We need more high elevation stations! And, a high-elevation Climate Reference Network Figure: Dan Cayan, Scripps Climate Research Division, California Applications Program.
A strategy to attain this goal involves these elements: 1. All major mountain ranges should be sampled. 2. Along-axis and cross-axis sampling for major mountain chains. 3. Approximately 5-10 sites per state (1 per 28000-56000 km 2 ) 4. Highest sites as high as possible within each state, but at both high relative and absolute elevations. 5. Free air exposures at higher sites. 6. Utilize existing measurements and networks, and extend existing records, when possible. 7. AC power to prevent ice/rime when practical. 8. Temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation as main elements, others as feasible. 9. Hourly readings, and real-time communication whenever possible 10. Absence of local artificial influences, site stable for next 5-10 decades. 11. Current and historical measurements accessible via World Wide Web when possible. 12. Hydro measurements (precipitation, snow water content, and depth) not practical at highest points, so have lower sites in more protected settings to permit these. 13. Maintain stable site characteristics (e.g., vegetation height) needed for measurement homogeneity. 14. High quality, rugged, durable instrumentation with proven track records greatly desirable. 15. Site documentation history available and accessible.
Suggested Areas: North
Suggested Areas: South
High elevation sites that are currently gathering weather data. Telescopes, research laboratories, NWS and other radar facilities, climate stations, etc.
South Central Sierra Snow Lab East 6883 ft / 2098 m Photo: Dave Simeral
Slide Mountain, Lake Tahoe Basin, 9650 ft.
Slide Mountain Toward SSW
Slide Mountain Toward ESE
Slide Mountain Toward NW
Slide Mountain Toward South
Operations? or testing? Ice + Wind + Imbalance + Shaking + Clouds + Battery Discharge + Persistence = Interesting data Ward Peak. Lake Tahoe Basin. 8600 feet. Photo: Arlen Huggins
2003 March 10
White Mountain Summit. Highest active live transmission station in North America. 14246 ft. / 4342 m. Summer 2003
White Mtn Summit Wind braces July 2004
White Mtn Summit Solar Sensor July 2004
White Mtn Summit Reconfigured July 2004
White Mtn Summit Looking North
White Mtn Summit Looking South
White Mtn Summit Looking West
White Mtn Summit Mean 10-minute Wind Speed Nov 25 Dec 13, 2004
White Mtn Summit Maximum 10-min Wind Gust Nov 25 Dec 13, 2004
White Mountain Summit East Mast Light Riming December 8, 2005 Photo Courtesy John Smiley, WMRS
White Mtn Summit Mean 10-minute temperature Nov 25 Dec 13, 2004 34 28-2 -20
White Mtn Summit Ave 10-min Relative Humidity Nov 25 Dec 13, 2004
White Mtn Summit Ave 10-minute Surface Pressure Nov 25 Dec 13, 2004
White Mtn Summit Ave 10-minute Wind Direction Nov 25 Dec 13, 2004
White Mountain Summit Wind Rose All hours Mean 10-minute Wind Speed 16-Point Compass 2004 Nov 25 - Dec 13
White Mountain Summit Wind Rose All hours Mean 10-minute Wind Speed 36-Point Compass 2004 Nov 25 - Dec 13
White Mtn Summit Ave 10-minute Wind Direction Aug 15 Sep 19, 2004 Mostly above freezing, mostly low humidity same behavior.
Mt Warren
Mt Warren (12327 ft) Toward South. July 2000. Mt Warren Warren Bench Rd ends here Our highest pine sites here Deer Creek Canyon To Mono Lake Lundy Canyon View looking south up Deer Cr (NB: beautiful Pleistocene Rock Glacial cyn), a tributary of Lundy Cyn (note also limber pines at left foreslope (one of our sites). 7/00 Photo: Connie Millar
20 new NRCS Snotel Site at Virginia Lakes
Star Peak Humboldt Range Site at 9243 ft
Star Peak 12 Nov 2005
Star Peak 17 Nov 2005
Star Peak Humboldt Range 9243 ft 17 Nov 2005 From approximately 7000 ft level.
Cold Cap cloud Windy Riming Relative Humidity Ice Buildup Unbalanced load Guy wire Breakage Tower top Collapse Wind direction, top Dec 8, 2004
Thank You