A High Elevation Climate Monitoring Network
Kelly T. Redmond
Western Regional Climate Center
Desert Research Institute
Reno Nevada
AGU San Francisco
December 17, 2004
WRCC / OSU
Nevada Precip-Elevation Distribution
100%
90%
80%
Elevation
Precipitation
% of Total
70%
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
6C
T
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.
Source: Climate Prediction Center
Trends 1966+
Feb-Mar-Apr
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
Reanalysis Cross Sections
34-38 N from 90 to 130 W
Jan-Dec
1948-2001
Potential Temperature Trend
Jan-Dec
1970-2001
Mar-May
1970-2001
Kelly Redmond, WRCC. Graphics Courtesy
of Climate Diagnostics Center.
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 km2)
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
6883 ft / 2098 m
East
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
Mt Warren (12327 ft) Toward South. July 2000.
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
NRCS Snotel Site at Virginia Lakes
20” new
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