DOCSLIB.ORG

2.1 Climate and World Winegrape Growing Regions

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
2.1 Climate and World Winegrape Growing Regions Portland State University PDXScholar Dissertations and Theses Dissertations and Theses Summer 10-2-2013 Spatial Analysis of Climate and Winegrape Production in Winegrape Growing Regions of Oregon, United States of America Willow Devin Campbell Portland State University Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy . Follow this and additional works at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds Part of the Viticulture and Oenology Commons Recommended Citation Campbell, Willow Devin, "Spatial Analysis of Climate and Winegrape Production in Winegrape Growing Regions of Oregon, United States of America" (2013). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 1442. 10.15760/etd.1441 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of PDXScholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Spatial Analysis of Climate and Winegrape Production in Winegrape Growing Regions of Oregon, United States of America by Willow Devin Campbell A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geography Thesis Committee: Hejunn Chang, Advisor Martha Works David Banis Portland State University 2013 Willow Devin Campbell i Abstract American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) are susceptible to small variations in climate and microclimates and are found within a narrow latitudinal range of prime climate conditions. These AVAs are geographically determined based on the best soil, climate, precipitation and temperature combinations for specific winegrape regions. As climate change continues to alter the local weather and the greater climate region of the Western United States, winegrape growing regions in Oregon are being affected. In an effort to determine what the pattern of change is, and compare previous studies of climate change using climate indices, a comparative study based in part on prior research was conducted. Using 800 meter resolution Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) climate datasets, four individual climate indices were analyzed for statistical correlation with the climate data. These climate indices are: growing degree-days (GDD), the average growing season temperatures (GST), Huglin Index (HI) and the biologically effective degree-day (BEDD). Based on currently available data for this research, these climate indices were statistically analyzed during the years 2000 to 2010. A further avenue of research included a statistical analysis of the reported winegrape production, although this data was available only at an aggregated county- level. Results show that all four climate indices exhibit statistical significance, although the inclusion of the winegrape production data exhibited no statistical significance for ii many of the analyses, most likely due to subjective and aggregated data, few did result in significance with the climate indices. The research discussed here confirms the accuracy of the four climate indices and suggest that a longer time frame, coupled with less aggregated and subjective winegrape production data could produce interesting results in future research on the results of climate indices in winegrape growing regions. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to give a sincere thanks to my advisor, Dr. Heejun Chang, for his lasting commitment over the progression of my thesis research. His dedication through the course of these years, to my studies, this thesis and me is infinitely valued. I would like to thank Dr. Gregory Jones for whom, without his dedication and profound knowledge of the subject, this thesis would not have been possible. His enthusiasm and availability, despite broad geographic differences, to offer guidance and support is immeasurable and greatly appreciated. In addition to Heejun and Greg, I would like to thank the other members of my committee, Dr. Martha Works and David Banis, for their continued support and time they have allotted for this manuscript. I would like to say a special thank you to my cohort, especially Kate Clark and Cale Richards, for being there during the late nights and the early mornings, to commiserate the downs and celebrate the highs. Cheers to victory laps. Karin Waller, I owe you a prodigious thank you. Without you to take the time out of your day to guide an overwhelmed, sleep-deprived graduate student, I would have never made it past that first term. Thank you, Karin. iv More than anything, I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to my friends and family for all of their overwhelming support and love while pursuing my master’s degree. Thank you for seeing in me what, at times, I could not see in myself and for encouraging me to keep going. I would like to especially thank Eric Crum for his unwavering patience, encouragement and love while completing my thesis. Lots of lost adventure filled weekends and relaxing evenings are on the horizon. Thank you, Eric. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................................... iiii LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….vii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................viiii GLOSSARY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………x Chapter One – Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background .................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Research Objectives ....................................................................................................... 3 Chapter Two - Climate and winegrape growing regions……………………………………………………………...5 2.1 Climate and world winegrape growing regions ............................................................ 5 2.2 Climate and Oregon winegrape growing regions ......................................................... 6 2.3 Oregon AVA Characteristics.......................................................................................... 7 2.3.1 Willamette Valley ............................................................................................... 9 2.3.2 Columbia Gorge ............................................................................................... 10 2.3.3 Columbia Valley ............................................................................................... 11 2.3.4 Snake River Valley ............................................................................................ 11 2.3.5 Southern Oregon ............................................................................................. 12 Chapter Three - Materials and Methods………………………….………………………………………………………..13 3.1 Data ............................................................................................................................. 13 3.1.1 Wine production data ....................................................................................... 13 3.1.2 Climate data………………………………………….……………………………………………………...13 3.2 Climate Indices ............................................................................................................ 15 3.2.1 Growing season temperature .......................................................................... 15 3.2.2 Growing degree day ......................................................................................... 18 3.2.3 Huglin index ..................................................................................................... 19 vi 3.2.4 Biologically effictive degree day ...................................................................... 21 3.3 Data processing ........................................................................................................... 21 3.4 Statistical analysis ....................................................................................................... 25 Chapter Four – Results……………………………..…………………………………………………….………………………..26 4.1 Correlation of climate indices and wingrape production at the Oregon County Scale ........................................................................................................................................... 47 4.2 Correlation at the Oregon winegrape growing region scale ....................................... 30 4.2.1 Willamette Valley winegrape growing region .................................................. 31 4.2.2 Columbia Gorge winegrape growing region ..................................................... 32 4.2.3 Columbia Valley winegrape growing region ..................................................... 34 4.2.4 Snake River Valley winegrape growing region .................................................. 36 4.2.5 Southern Oregon winegrape growing region ……..…………………………………………37 4.3 Previous reseach comparison ..................................................................................... 38 Chapter Five - Discussion and conclusions……………………………………………………………………….……….47 REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….55 vii LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Oregon Winegrape growning regions elavations and area characteristics……….…8 Table 2: Distribution of American Viticultural Areas per Oregon County………………..…….19 Table 3: Oregon American Viticultural Area (AVA) 2000-2010 PRISM-calculated quantile statistics for growing season average temperature (GST, °C), growing degree-days
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Section 10: Windstorms (Including Tornadoes)
    Section 10: Windstorms (Including Tornadoes) Why are Windstorms a threat to Polk County?............................................. 2 Why are Tornadoes a Threat to Polk County? ........................................ 2 Historical Windstorm Events ................................................................ 3 Regional ...................................................................................... 3 Polk County ................................................................................. 4 Historical Tornado Events ................................................................... 5 Characteristics of Windstorms in Polk County ........................................ 7 Windstorm and Tornado Hazard Assessment ........................................ 7 Hazard Identification ..................................................................... 7 Vulnerability Assessment ............................................................... 8 Risk Analysis ............................................................................... 9 Community Windstorm Issues ............................................................. 9 Community Tornado Issues ............................................................... 12 Mitigation Plan Goals and Existing Activities ........................................ 13 Mitigation Plan Goals and Public Priorities ..................................... 13 Existing Mitigation Activities ......................................................... 13 Windstorm and Tornado Mitigation Action Items ..................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Climate of Oregon Climate Zone 4 Northern Cascades
    /05 E55 Unbound issue No. 9/ is Does not circulate Special Report 916 May 1993 The Climate of Oregon Climate Zone 4 Northern Cascades Property of OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY Library Serials Corvallis, OR 97331-4503 Agricultural Experiment Station Oregon State University For additional copies of this publication, write: George Taylor State Climatologist Oregon Climate Service Strand Agriculture Hall 326 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-2010 The Climate of Oregon Climate Zone 4 Northern Cascades George H. Taylor, State Climatologist Alexi Bartlett Oregon Climate Service Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon March, 1993 Oregon Climate Zone Summary Zone 4--Northern Cascades The Cascade Mountains, the dominant terrain feature in Oregon, encompass the entire length of the state from the California border to Washington. With average elevations in excess of 4,000 feet, the Cascades are crowned with a number of very high peaks. Mount Hood, near the Washington border, exceeds 11,000 feet, while Mt. Jefferson and the Three Sisters exceed 10,000 feet. Mt. McLoughlin near Medford is approximately 9,500 feet. The Cascades are a higher and more imposing topographic feature in the northern part of Oregon, however. Average elevations and the number of tall peaks (over 9,000 feet) are higher north of about 43.5°N latitude. The region extending from this latitude northward to the Columbia River and encompassing high elevations west of the Cascade crest is the fourth of nine Oregon climatic zones. The northern Cascades exert a profound effect on Oregon climate and weather. Mid-latitude storms approaching from the west are forced to rise as they encounter the Cascades, resulting in large amounts of orographic (terrain- induced) precipitation on the western slopes.
    [Show full text]
  • Willamette Valley Voices: Connecting Generations a Publication of the Willamette Heritage Center
    Willamette Valley Voices: Connecting Generations A publication of the Willamette Heritage Center Editor and Executive Director: Bob H. Reinhardt Editorial Assistant: Kelly Lawton Jones Editorial board: Mike Balyo, Chemeketa Community College Jennifer Jopp, Willamette University John Rector, Western Oregon University John Scott, Corban University © 2017 Willamette Heritage Center www.willametteheritage.org Willamette Valley Voices: Connecting Generations is published by the Willa- mette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill Street SE, Salem, OR 97301. Nothing in the journal may be reprinted in whole or part without written permission from the publisher. Direct inquiries to Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill Street SE, Salem, OR 97301 or email [email protected]. IN THIS ISSUE After a three year hiatus, the Willamette Heritage Center is pleased to again publish Willamette Valley Voices: Connecting Generations, a journal of scholarly writing pertaining to history and heritage in Oregon’s Mid-Willa- mette Valley. Articles are written by scholars, students, heritage profession- als, and historians - professional and amateur. Editions are themed to orient authors and readers to varied and important topics in Mid-Valley history. This issue is published in conjunction with the Willamette Heritage Cen- ter’s 2017 Winter Heritage Invitational Exhibit, Nature and Community. Both the exhibit and this issue explore the myriad relationships between Mid-Willamette Valley communities and the natural worlds they inhabit. Nature – more specifically: plants, animals, and other nonhuman elements of the natural world – has played a variety of roles in the region’s history: as the background for developments in politics, society, and culture; as a source of identity for different groups of people; as an object upon which humans have acted; and as a force of its own, limiting and shaping human activity.
    [Show full text]
  • 2.2 State Risk Assessment
    Chapter 2: RISK ASSESSMENT | State Risk Assessment | Cultural Resources Summary » Wildfire 2.2 State Risk Assessment Requirement: 44 CFR §201.4(c)(2)(i): The risk assessment shall include… (i) An overview of the type and location of all natural hazards that can affect the State, including information on previous occurrences of hazard events, as well as the probability of future hazard events, using maps where appropriate; The spatial distribution of the facilities within hazard zones is not easily viewed on a statewide map. Therefore, maps depicting hazard zones and facilities within those zones have only been created at the regional scale. Those maps can be found in section 2.3, Regional Risk Assessments. Oregon Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan | September 2020 163 Chapter 2: RISK ASSESSMENT | State Risk Assessment | Coastal Hazards Summary » Wildfire 2.2.1 Coastal Hazards The Pacific Northwest (PNW) coast of Figure 2-29. Erosion at The Capes Oregon is without doubt one of the most Condominiums, Oceanside, Oregon dynamic coastal landscapes in North America, evident by its long sandy beaches, sheer coastal cliffs, dramatic headlands and vistas, and ultimately the power of the Pacific Ocean that serves to erode and change the shape of the coast. It is these qualities along with its various natural resources that have drawn people to live along its narrow shores. However, coastal communities are increasingly under threat from a variety of natural hazards that all come together along the coastal strip. These include wave-induced coastal erosion (both short and long term), wave runup and overtopping (wave-induced flood hazards), inundation Notes: The Capes, a multi-million dollar condominium of homes by wind-blown sand, coastal complex constructed on an old Holocene dune field landslides, earthquakes, and potentially adjacent to Oceanside.
    [Show full text]
  • 17. Vegetation and Climate of the Northwest Coast of North America During the Last 500 K.Y.: High-Resolution Pollen Evidence from the Northern California Margin1
    Lyle, M., Koizumi, I., Richter, C., and Moore, T.C., Jr. (Eds.), 2000 Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, Vol. 167 17. VEGETATION AND CLIMATE OF THE NORTHWEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA DURING THE LAST 500 K.Y.: HIGH-RESOLUTION POLLEN EVIDENCE FROM THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA MARGIN1 L.E. Heusser,2 M. Lyle,3 and A. Mix4 ABSTRACT Pollen analyses of sediments from Holes 1019C, 1019E, 1020C, and 1020D as well as piston Core EW9504-17 provide continuous, chronostratigraphically controlled proxy vegetation and climate data for coastal northwest North America for the last ~500 k.y. Systematic changes in the representation of the diagnostic components of northern California plant assemblages clearly show orbital-scale variations. Interglacials are all marked by an abrupt increase in alder followed by expansion of low- land oak woodland and redwood forests. Glacials are dominated by montane forest and woodland assemblages. This sequence reflects large-scale climatic controls (e.g., orbital-scale variation in insolation and Northern Hemisphere ice sheets) in western North America over the last five glacial cycles. Regional climatic control (variations in sea-surface conditions) is implied by the differential development of xeric oak and mesic redwood communities. INTRODUCTION The complex mosaic of southern California scrub oak (Quercus), oak woodland savanna, and oak-dominated foothill woodlands with iso- It has been established that pollen deposited in marine sediments lated groups of closed-cone pine and cypress (Pinus radiata and Cu- on continental margins provides terrestrial vegetation and climate pressus pygmaea) interfingers with chaparral and lowland sage records that are directly correlated with global chronostratigraphic scrub.
    [Show full text]
  • 3* &»? ?Oi. 2. Pp. 380, Sec
    UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOK J. A. Krug, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY W. E. Wrather, Director Water-Supply Paper 968 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HYDROLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES 1944 This copy is PUBLIC PROPERTY and is not to be removed from the official files. PRIVATE POSSESSION IS UNUWFUL (& 3* &»? ?oi. 2. pp. 380, Sec. 749) UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1949 CONTENTS [The letters in parentheses preceding the titles are those used to designate the papers for sepa*ate publication] Page (A) Flood runoff in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, by M. D. Brands (published in November 1947)________________________________ 1 (B) Floods of the Puyallup and Chehalis River Basins, Washington, by I. E. Anderson (published in February 1948)____________________ 61 (C) Topographic characteristics of drainage basins, by W. B. Lar ^bein and others (published in December 1947)_--__-__-_-__-_____-__- 125 (D) Ground-water exploration in the Natchitoches area, Louisiana, by J. C. Maher and P. H. Jones (published in August 1949)_________ 159 ILLUSTRATIONS Page PLATE 1. Contour map of the Puyallup River Basin showing river-meas­ urement and climatologic stations-_____________________ 70 2. Topographic map of Little Androscoggin River Basin above South Paris, Maine________________________________In pocket 3. Geologic cross sections in the Natchitoches area, Louisiana. In pocket FIGURE 1. Map showing relation of Willamette Valley to the rest of western Oregon_____________________________________ 4 2. Contour map of Willamette Valley______________________ 6 3. Isohyetal map of Willamette Valley showing mean annual precipitation, in inches.______________________________ 8 4. Monthly precipitation, in inches, at representative cities in the Willamette Valley______________________________ 10 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Oregon Facts
    ,V&cts concern'mc its cWrn ate-, ScA /mineral 'and &ar lcu^tturaA TesovtrceS Glass Fsgf f ' Book J&$ { OREGON. FACTS .REGARDING ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, MINERAL AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, MEANS OF COMMUNICATION, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, LAWS, &C, &C FOR THE USE OF IMMIGRANTS, WITH MAP. ^REGON STATE BOARD OF IMMIGRATION, ANKENY BUILDING, PORTLAND, OREGON. EASTERN OFFICE, 32S WASHINGTON STREET, Room No. 8, BOSTON", JVLJ^SS. 1876. „eu-' The Oregon Central Railroad Company. Passenger-trains from Portland for St. Joseph and all intermediate pohvte every afternoon, except Sunday, returning from St. Joseph to Portland and all intermediate points every morning; connecting at Cornelius with stages for Forest Grove ; at St. Joseph for all points south and west, — Lafayette, McMinnville, Amity, Monmouth, Inde- pendence, Buena Vista and Corvallis. Passengers getting on the train at Ticket Stations without tickets will be charged twenty-five cents extra. J. BSANDT, Jan., Superintendent. LAND DEPARTMENT OF THE OREGON & CALIFORNIA RAILROAD COMPAE The Oregon and California Railroad Company have a large grant of land from the United States Government, which they sell on very liberal conditions at the low prices of $1.25 to $7 per acre, payable in United States currency. The purchaser can pay cash, in which case he will be allowed a discount of ten per cent on the purchase price ; or he can have ten years' time in which to make up the same by small annual payments, with interest at seven per cent per annum. In this case the purchaser pays down one-tenth of the price. One year from the sale, he pays seven per cent interest on the remaining nine-tenths of the principal.
    [Show full text]
  • Pioneer Houses and Homesteads of the Willamette Valley, Oregon Historic Context 1 Introduction
    Pioneer Houses and Homesteads of the Willamette Valley, Oregon 1841-1865 Prepared for the Historic Preservation League of Oregon May 2013 by Liz Carter Cover Images, clockwise from top left: Cartwright House (also known as Mountain House), Lorane, Lane County, HABS image Daniel and Melinda Waldo House, Marion County, Brian Waldo Johnson image W.H. Finley House, Corvallis, Benton County, from A Pictorial History of Benton County Blakely House, Brownsville, University of Oregon Libraries image (Philip Dole, photographer) McBride Log Cabin, Yamhill County, Oregon State Library image For more information, contact: Historic Preservation League of Oregon 24 NW First Avenue #274 Portland, Oregon 97209 [email protected] 503.243.1923 Liz Carter, Preservation Consultant Eugene, Oregon [email protected] This project has been funded in part by a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Richard and Julia Moe Fund Acknowledgements This project was completed with a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and additional support from the Historic Preservation League of Oregon. A number of people offered their knowledge and expertise to various aspects of the project, including Shannon Applegate, Stephen Dow Beckham, Bill Hawkins, Rosalind Keeney, George Kramer, Gregg Olson, Don Peting, Elisabeth Walton Potter, and Shannon Sardell. This work would not have been possible without their wisdom. The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office provided invaluable support and encouragement. Thank you to Deputy SHPO Roger Roper, Assistant Deputy SHPO Chrissy Curran, and particularly to Kenny Gunn, who visited and photographed all 300+ settlement-period houses and homesteads in the nine-county study area in the early months of 2013, providing us with current information on these important sites.
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation in the Blue Mountains Region
    1 Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation in the Blue Mountains Region Editors Jessica E. Halofsky is a research ecologist, University of Washington, College of the Environment, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Box 352100, Seattle, WA 98195- 2100; David. L. Peterson is a senior research biological scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, 400 N. 34th St., Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98103. 2 Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation in the Blue Mountains Region J.E. Halofsky and D.L. Peterson Editors U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station Portland, Oregon General Technical Report PNW-GTR-xxxx Month year 3 Abstract Halofsky, J.E.; Peterson, D.L., eds. 2016. Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the Blue Mountains. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-xxx. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Xxx p. The Blue Mountains Adaptation Partnership (BMAP) is a science-management partnership consisting of Malheur National Forest, Umatilla National Forest, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station and Pacific Northwest Region, the University of Washington, and the Climate Impacts Research Consortium at Oregon State University. These organizations worked together over a period of two years to identify climate change issues relevant to resource management in the Blue Mountains region and to find solutions that can minimize negative effects of climate change and facilitate transition of diverse ecosystems to a warmer climate. The BMAP provided education, conducted a climate change vulnerability assessment, and developed adaptation options for federal agencies that manage 2.1 million hectares in northeast Oregon, southeast Washington, and a small portion of southwest Idaho.
    [Show full text]
  • Water-Efficient Plants Willamette Valley
    ATER-EFFICIENT PLANTS Wfor the WILLAMETTE VALLEY his Plant Guide has been made available through a A special thanks to all those who contributed the many photos for this publication and T partnership between Clackamas Community College provided editorial content and feedback. Horticulture Department, South Fork Water Board, Regional Water Elizabeth Howley, Clackamas Community College, Providers Consortium, OSU Extension Service, City of Corvallis, Horticulture Department and Eugene Water and Electric Board, with the goal of moving Neil Bell, OSU Extension Service towards a more water-efficient community through water-efficient Pat Breen, OSU Department of Horticulture landscaping. We recognize that there are many more well deserving Louis-M. Landry; Fred Hrusa; John Game; David McClurg; Luigi Rignanese; Tim Sullivan; Jerry Murray; water-efficient plants than we were able to include in this guide. Steve Matson; Scotty Fairchild; Linda McMahan; Bluestem Nursery; Trans-Pacific Nursery; Renee Harber; For more information about the following partners, go to their Chris Miskow websites listed below. Other Credits Dr. Amadej Trnkoczy: Pinus nigra, Daphne cneorum, Crocus vernus ssp. albiflorus, Malva alcea, Geranium sanguineum, Origanum vulgare Brousseau Collection: Abies grandis, Oemleria cerasiformis, Solidago sp., Artemisia suksdorfii, Fragaria chiloensis Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences: Juniperus scopulorum; Ceanothus impressus; Clackamas Community College The City of Corvallis Hypericum calycinum http://depts.clackamas.edu/hort/ www.ci.corvallis.or.us Gerald and Buff Corsi © California Academy of Sciences: Pinus ponderosa; Gaillardia aristata Dr. G. Dallas and Margaret Hanna © California Academy of Sciences: Acer circinatum Robert Potts © California Academy of Sciences: Aster subspicatus; Oxalis oregana Christopher Christie © 2003 Dicentra formosa Eugene Water and Electric Board Oregon State University Extension Service Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • The Climate of Oregon Climate Zone 2 Willamette Valley
    /05 E-55 No. ci oi Unbound issue e2_, Does not circulate Special Report 914 May 1993 The Climate of Oregon Climate Zone 2 Willamette Valley Property of OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY Library Serials Corvallis, OR 97331-4503 Agricultural Experiment Station Oregon State University For additional copies of this publication, write: George Taylor State Climatologist Oregon Climate Service Strand Agriculture Hall 326 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-2010 The Climate of Oregon Climate Zone 2 Willamette Valley George H. Taylor, State Climatologist Alexi Bartlett Oregon Climate Service Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon March, 1993 Oregon Climate Zone Summary Zone 2 -- The Willamette Valley The Willamette Valley is the most diverse agricultural area in the state of Oregon, and also the home of the majority of the population. Oregon's three largest cities, Portland, Salem, and Eugene, are located in the north, central, and south portions of the Valley, respectively, but the urban areas are surrounded by varied and productive ranches, orchards, and farms. Among the crops grown in significant quantities are tree fruits, nuts, berries, mint, grains, and hay. Livestock operations are also common, including the dairy and poultry industries. The climate of the Valley is relatively mild throughout the year, characterized by cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The climatic conditions closely resemble the Mediterranean climates which occur in California, although Oregon's winters are somewhat wetter and cooler. Growing seasons in the Willamette Valley are long, and moisture is abundant during most of the year (although summer irrigation is common). Like the remainder of western Oregon, the Valley has a predominant winter rainfall climate.
    [Show full text]
  • Manfred Grabski ARCH 407/507 Human Factors & Research
    Manfred Grabski ARCH 407/507 Human Factors & Research Methods Are native desert plants appropriate for green roofs in Portland, Oregon? Introduction Studying and designing roofs for years as a part of my professional career as an architect shows me the similarity between desert environment and the environment of roofs and leads me to the question: Is planting desert plants on Portland’s green roofs an appropriate solution? Conditions on Portland’s roofs are often very similar to those found in the desert. Most roofs are exposed to the sun without any shading. Long drought periods occur during the summer season, even here on the west side of the Cascade Mountains. The unprotected surfaces are exposed to the elements and drastic temperature changes are typical. Rainfall drains fast from the sloped roofs and little moisture is stored even during the rainy seasons. To prove the assumption that desert plants are suitable for Portland’s roof landscape, I will research the climate conditions of the desert in the Northwest and their vegetation. In comparison to the desert, I will also research the city climate and the conditions on Portland’s roofs. The research is mainly supported by the use of publications. Desert To get a better understanding of the climate and conditions of the desert, we should start with the definition of this unique landscape. The World Book Encyclopedia describes the desert as a generally hot, barren region that receives little rainfall, but at the same time is not waste land. Checking the German encyclopedia “Der Brockhaus in einem Band”, I find a slightly different description.
    [Show full text]