Wind River Range Snowpack Reconstruction Using Dendochronology and Sea Surface Temperatures

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Wind River Range Snowpack Reconstruction Using Dendochronology and Sea Surface Temperatures University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Masters Theses Graduate School 12-2010 Wind River Range Snowpack Reconstruction Using Dendochronology and Sea Surface Temperatures SallyRose Anderson University of Tennessee - Knoxville, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes Part of the Environmental Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Anderson, SallyRose, "Wind River Range Snowpack Reconstruction Using Dendochronology and Sea Surface Temperatures. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 2010. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/771 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by SallyRose Anderson entitled "Wind River Range Snowpack Reconstruction Using Dendochronology and Sea Surface Temperatures." I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Master of Science, with a major in Environmental Engineering. Glenn Tootle, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: John Schwartz, Mary Sue Younger Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a thesis written by SallyRose Anderson entitled “Wind River Range Snowpack Reconstruction Using Dendochronology and Sea Surface Temperatures.” I have examined the final electronic copy of this thesis for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, with a major in Environmental Engineering. Glenn Tootle, Major Professor We have read this thesis and recommend its acceptance: John Schwartz Mary Sue Younger Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School Wind River Range Snowpack Reconstruction Using Dendochronology and Sea Surface Temperatures A thesis presented for the Masters of Science Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville SallyRose Anderson December 2010 ABSTRACT Multiple reconstructions of April 1 st snow water equivalent (SWE) are generated for the Wind River Range (WRR), located in west-central Wyoming, to determine the most accurate predictors. Predictors included climate signal data (Southern Oscillation Index), traditional predictors (tree-ring chronologies), and non-spatially biased Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures (SSTs). Incorporation of Pacific Ocean SSTs as a whole provides a more comprehensive representation of oceanic-atmospheric variability. Rotated principal component analysis (PCA) was used to regionalize April 1st snowpack data (1961 – 1999) from snow telemetry stations (SNOTEL stations). Tree-ring chronologies that were stable across the period of overlapping records (1961 – 1999) and that were positively correlated with regional snowpack at 99% confidence levels or higher were retained. Singular value decomposition (SVD) was performed on Pacific Ocean SSTs and regional snowpack data to identify coupled regions of climate (SSTs) and hydrology (SWE). Stepwise regressions were performed across the calibration period to identify the best predictor combinations. When data from the instrumental based SST regions identified by SVD were included in the pool of predictors, an increase in reconstruction skill was observed. Further regressions were performed using tree based and coral based SST data. Reconstruction equations were obtained from these regressions and regional April 1 st snowpack was reconstructed for the WRR for all three types of SST data. A higher degree of snowpack variance is explained by reconstructions utilizing tree based, coral based, and instrumental based data for the Pacific Ocean SST region identified by SVD than is possible utilizing only tree-ring and SOI data, indicating that non-spatially biased SSTs are excellent predictors for snowpack reconstruction in the WRR. ii Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction and Literature Review ................................................................................. 1 2.0 REGION OF STUDY .......................................................................................................... 4 3.0 DATA .................................................................................................................................. 7 3.1 SNOTEL Stations ............................................................................................................. 7 3.2 Tree-Ring Chronologies ................................................................................................... 8 3.3 Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) ................................................................................... 11 3.4 Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) .................................................................................. 11 4.0 Reconstruction Methodology ............................................................................................. 13 4.1 Concentration of Data .................................................................................................... 13 4.1.1 Principal Component Analysis for SNOTEL Station Data..................................... 13 4.1.2 Correlation for Tree-Ring Chronologies ................................................................. 13 4.1.3 Range Selection for SOI and SST data ................................................................... 14 4.2 Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) ........................................................................... 14 4.2.1 Application of SVD ................................................................................................ 17 4.3 Stepwise Regression ....................................................................................................... 19 4.4 Regression Analysis ....................................................................................................... 21 4.4.1 Autocorrelation ....................................................................................................... 21 5.0 Fit Statistics for Calibration Period.................................................................................... 22 5.1 Standard Error of the Regression (S) ............................................................................. 22 5.2 Durbin-Watson Statistic ................................................................................................. 23 5.3 R2 .................................................................................................................................... 23 5.4 Adjusted R 2 .................................................................................................................... 24 5.5 Predicted R 2 .................................................................................................................... 24 6.0 Results ................................................................................................................................ 26 7.0 Conclusion and Future Work ............................................................................................. 31 8.0 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ 33 Literature Cited ............................................................................................................................. 34 iii Appendices .................................................................................................................................... 41 Appendix 1: Data Source Summary ............................................................................................ 42 Appendix 2: Principal Components Analysis Report .................................................................. 43 Appendix 3: MiniTab Output for Model Calibration .................................................................. 44 General Models: Stepwise Regression, Regression, Autocorrelation ...................................... 44 Specific SST Models: Stepwise Regression, Regression, Autocorrelation .............................. 53 Appendix 4: Model Calibration Fits ............................................................................................ 62 General Models ......................................................................................................................... 62 Specific SST Models................................................................................................................. 63 Appendix 5: Regression Equations for Reconstructions ............................................................. 64 Appendix 6: Chronology Data Used in Reconstructions ............................................................. 65 BLE ........................................................................................................................................... 65 NPU..........................................................................................................................................
Recommended publications
  • An Evaluation of Snow Initializations in NCEP Global and Regional Forecasting Models
    JUNE 2016 D A W S O N E T A L . 1885 An Evaluation of Snow Initializations in NCEP Global and Regional Forecasting Models NICHOLAS DAWSON,PATRICK BROXTON,XUBIN ZENG, AND MICHAEL LEUTHOLD Department of Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona MICHAEL BARLAGE Research Applications Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado PAT HOLBROOK Idaho Power Company, Boise, Idaho (Manuscript received 13 November 2015, in final form 10 April 2016) ABSTRACT Snow plays a major role in land–atmosphere interactions, but strong spatial heterogeneity in snow depth (SD) and snow water equivalent (SWE) makes it challenging to evaluate gridded snow quantities using in situ measurements. First, a new method is developed to upscale point measurements into gridded datasets that is superior to other tested methods. It is then utilized to generate daily SD and SWE datasets for water years 2012–14 using measurements from two networks (COOP and SNOTEL) in the United States. These datasets are used to evaluate daily SD and SWE initializations in NCEP global forecasting models (GFS and CFSv2, both on 0.5830.58 grids) and regional models (NAM on 12 km 3 12 km grids and RAP on 13 km 3 13 km grids) across eight 28328 boxes. Initialized SD from three models (GFS, CFSv2, and NAM) that utilize Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) SD data for initialization is 77% below the area-averaged values, on av- erage. RAP initializations, which cycle snow instead of using the AFWA SD, underestimate SD to a lesser degree. Compared with SD errors, SWE errors from GFS, CFSv2, and NAM are larger because of the ap- plication of unrealistically low and globally constant snow densities.
    [Show full text]
  • Snow Modeling and Observations at NOAA's National Operational
    Snow Modeling and Observations at NOAA’S National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center Thomas R. Carroll National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chanhassen, Minnesota, USA Abstract The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) routinely ingests all of the electronically available, real-time, ground-based, snow data; airborne snow water equivalent data; satellite areal extent of snow cover information; and numerical weather prediction (NWP) model forcings for the coterminous United States. The NWP model forcings are physically downscaled from their native 13 kilometer2 (km) spatial resolution to a 1 km2 resolution for the coterminous United States. The downscaled NWP forcings drive the NOHRSC Snow Model (NSM) that includes an energy-and-mass-balance snow accumulation and ablation model run at a 1 km2 spatial resolution and at a 1 hour temporal resolution for the country. The ground-based, airborne, and satellite snow observations are assimilated into the model state variables simulated by the NSM using a Newtonian nudging technique. The principle advantages of the assimilation technique are: (1) approximate balance is maintained in the NSM, (2) physical processes are easily accommodated in the model, and (3) asynoptic data are incorporated at the appropriate times. The NSM is reinitialized with the assimilated snow observations to generate a variety of snow products that combine to form NOAA’s NOHRSC National Snow Analyses (NSA). The NOHRSC NSA incorporate all of the information necessary and available to produce a “best estimate” of real-time snow cover conditions at 1 km2 spatial resolution and 1 hour temporal resolution for the country.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessment of Snowfall Accumulation from Satellite and Reanalysis Products Using SNOTEL Observations in Alaska
    Preprints (www.preprints.org) | NOT PEER-REVIEWED | Posted: 2 June 2021 doi:10.20944/preprints202106.0062.v1 Assessment of Snowfall Accumulation from Satellite and Reanalysis Products using SNOTEL Observations in Alaska Yang Song, Patrick D. Broxton, Mohammad Reza Ehsani, Ali Behrangi The University of Arizona, Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Corresponding author: Ali Behrangi, [email protected] Abstract The combination of snowfall, snow water equivalent (SWE), and precipitation rate measurements from 39 Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) sites in Alaska are used to assess the performance of various precipitation products from satellites, reanalysis, and rain gauges. Observation of precipitation from two water years (2018-2019) of the high resolution radar/rain gauge data (Stage IV) product was also utilized to add insights into scaling differences between various products. The outcomes were also used to assess two popular methods for rain gauge undercatch correction. It was found that SWE and precipitation measurements at SNOTELs, as well as precipitation estimates based on Stage IV data, are generally consistent and can provide a range in which other products can be assessed. Time-series of snowfall and SWE accumulation suggests that most of the products can capture snowfall events; however, differences exist in their accumulation. Reanalysis products tend to overestimate snow accumulation in the study area, while current combined passive microwave remote sensing products (i.e., IMERG-HQ) underestimate snowfall accumulation. We found that corrections factors applied to rain gauges are effective in improving their undercatch, especially for snowfall. However, no improvement in correlation is seen when correction factors are applied, and rainfall is still estimated better than snowfall.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Gate.Html (Accessed on 20 April 2021)
    remote sensing Article Assessment of Snowfall Accumulation from Satellite and Reanalysis Products Using SNOTEL Observations in Alaska Yang Song 1, Patrick D. Broxton 2, Mohammad Reza Ehsani 1 and Ali Behrangi 1,* 1 Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; [email protected] (Y.S.); [email protected] (M.R.E.) 2 School of Natural Resources and the Environment, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: The combination of snowfall, snow water equivalent (SWE), and precipitation rate mea- surements from 39 snow telemetry (SNOTEL) sites in Alaska were used to assess the performance of various precipitation products from satellites, reanalysis, and rain gauges. Observation of precipita- tion from two water years (2018–2019) of a high-resolution radar/rain gauge data (Stage IV) product was also utilized to give insights into the scaling differences between various products. The outcomes were used to assess two popular methods for rain gauge undercatch correction. It was found that SWE and precipitation measurements at SNOTELs, as well as precipitation estimates based on Stage IV data, are generally consistent and can provide a range within which other products can be assessed. The time-series of snowfall and SWE accumulation suggests that most of the products can capture snowfall events; however, differences exist in their accumulation. Reanalysis products tended to overestimate snow accumulation in the study area, while the current combined passive microwave Citation: Song, Y.; Broxton, P.D.; remote sensing products (i.e., IMERG-HQ) underestimate snowfall accumulation.
    [Show full text]
  • Snotel Representativeness in the Rio Grande Headwaters on the Basis of Physiographics and Remotely-Sensed Snow Cover Persistence
    SNOTEL REPRESENTATIVENESS IN THE RIO GRANDE HEADWATERS ON THE BASIS OF PHYSIOGRAPHICS AND REMOTELY-SENSED SNOW COVER PERSISTENCE Noah P. Molotch1 and Roger C. Bales2 ABSTRACT Snowpack telemetry (SNOTEL) sites in and around the Rio Grande headwaters basin are located at the middle elevations of the watershed, in relatively dense vegetation, and toward the western boundary of the watershed. Based on 8 years of Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer data (1995 – 2002), the snow cover persistence index value at the six SNOTEL sites ranged from 3.9 to 4.4 with an average 12% greater than the mean persistence of the watershed. Therefore, information from the sites does not capture the variability in snowpack accumulation and ablation processes across the watershed. Using elevation, western barrier distance, and vegetation density, a 32-node binary regression tree model explained 75% of the variability in average snow-cover persistence. Terrain classes encompassing the Lily Pond, Middle Creek, and Slumgullion SNOTEL sites represented 4.1, 6.4, and 4.0% of the watershed area, respectively. SNOTEL stations do not exist in the spatially extensive (e.g. 11% of the watershed) terrain classes located in the upper elevations above timberline. The results and techniques presented here will be useful for spatially distributed hydrologic analyses in that we have identified the physiographic conditions currently represented by SNOTEL stations (i.e. the snowpack regimes at which SWE estimation uncertainty can be determined). Further, we have outlined a statistically unbiased approach for designing future observation networks based on variability in physiographic attributes and snowpack processes. INTRODUCTION The most widely-used ground-based observations for evaluating, initializing, and updating grid element snowpack estimates currently come from the snowpack telemetry (SNOTEL) network.
    [Show full text]
  • William Currier, Nic Wayand, & Jessica D. Lundquist
    An Excel Based Module to Explore the Major Drivers of Snowmelt During Rain-On-Snow Flooding Events William Currier, Nic Wayand, & Jessica D. Lundquist *University of Washington, Mountain Hydrology Research, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seattle, WA, USA Radiometer (CNR4) Introduction: A rain-on-snow flooding event is defined by extreme rain falling Data: Precipitation Gauge over a large extent of a snow-covered basin. Determining the contribution of I. Data to drive the model is taken from various locations: d) snowmelt during these events and determining the primary driver of the snow- 1. The Snoqualmie Pass research station (Figure 3) c) Wind Speed surface energy balance (Figure 1) is a critical question for flood forecasters and is a. Data is archived and available in real time1 2. Three National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) not well understood due to sparse observations available over complex terrain. Air Temperature/ Existing snow energy balance models used for research are cumbersome to set up SNOTEL RH and run. Therefore, we have developed an Excel energy balance model that is a. Low through high elevation data is provided from the simple to set up, run and modify per the instructors goals. Our target audience is 2009 flood in the Snoqualmie Basin upper-level high school students or entry level undergraduates who have taken a II. Forcing data during different meteorological conditions is physics course and had some exposure to climatology. We include data taken from provided to run this model and includes: the Snoqualmie Pass research station (921 m) and three National Resource a. Air temperature Conservation Service SNOTEL stations in the Snoqualmie basin.
    [Show full text]
  • 4-H Weather and Climate Youth Learning Lab Leader's Guide
    4-H Weather and Climate Youth Learning Lab Leader’s Guide 5351 • April 2019 Editors Molly Ward Science Educator Table of Contents Mountain Goat Instructional Design, LLC Bozeman, Montana Learning Lab Overview...................................3 Paul Lachapelle Introduction to Activities................................6 Associate Professor & Extension Community Activities Development Specialist; Department of Political Science; Local Government Center One: Weather Data............................................7 Montana State University Two: Weather and Climate Patterns.................... 12 Three: Weather and Climate Extremes................ 27 With contributions from: Four: Weather Forecasts................................... 31 Jasmine Carbajal MSU Extension FCS Agent, Hill County Five: CO2, Greenhouse Impacts and Climate....... 37 Six: Understanding Recent Climates Mary Louise Wood Wyoming State University Extension Educator, Through Tree Rings................................ 46 4-H/Youth Seven: Oceans, Ice and Modeling Climate........... 49 Shylea Wingard Eight: Where Does the Carbon Go?.................... 60 MSU Extension Agriculture and 4-H Agent, Nine: Weather and Climate Together, Hill County Now and in the Future............................ 64 Todd Kesner Director, MSU 4-H Center for Youth Development Katherine Jaeger The 4-H Experiential Learning Model Extension Field Specialist-Youth Outdoor Education, South Dakota State University provides the framework Mark Platten for this curriculum. Director, Teller County, Colorado
    [Show full text]
  • Water Year 2015 Summary of Climate, Hydrology & Snowpack
    6th Annual Northwest Climate Conference November 4, 2015 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Water Year 2015 Summary of Climate, Hydrology & Snowpack Observations Ron Abramovich Water Supply Specialist Snow Survey Boise, Idaho Water Year 2015 Summary of Climate, Hydrology & Snowpack Observations Abstract Water year 2015 was very unique in terms of climate variability in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. We’ll discuss fall precipitation, the November arctic cold spell and how Christmas brought the best powder skiing conditions for the year. Development of the ‘Snow Drought’ and impacts from two Atmospheric River events that produced early runoff before the typical snowmelt runoff forecast period even started. A dry and warm March and April closed ski areas early and produced record high early irrigation demand. May’s rains provided some relief for southern Idaho irrigators. Record high June temperatures gave way to more reasonable July temperatures as the summer fire season grew in intensity. After the past unique year and several since 2011, everyone is looking and wondering what the winter of 2016 will bring to the Pacific Northwest. Water Year 2015 Summary of Climate, Hydrology & Snowpack Observations Abstract Water year 2015 was very unique in terms of climate variability in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. We’ll discuss fall precipitation, the November arctic cold spell and how Christmas brought the best powder skiing conditions for the year. Development of the ‘Snow Drought’ and impacts from two Atmospheric River events that produced early runoff before the typical snowmelt runoff forecast period even started. A dry and warm March and April closed ski areas early and produced record high early irrigation demand.
    [Show full text]
  • Evaluating Seasonal Orographic Precipitation in the Interior Western
    SEPTEMBER 2017 J I N G E T A L . 2541 Evaluating Seasonal Orographic Precipitation in the Interior Western United States Using Gauge Data, Gridded Precipitation Estimates, and a Regional Climate Simulation XIAOQIN JING AND BART GEERTS Department of Atmospheric Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming YONGGANG WANG Department of Geosciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas CHANGHAI LIU National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado (Manuscript received 31 March 2017, in final form 12 July 2017) ABSTRACT There are several high-resolution (1–12 km) gridded precipitation datasets covering the interior western United States. This study cross validates seasonal orographic precipitation estimates from the Snowpack Telemetry (SNOTEL) network; the national hourly multisensor precipitation analysis Stage IV dataset (NCEP IV); four gauge-driven gridded datasets; and a 10-yr, 4-km, convection-permitting Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model simulation. The NCEP IV dataset, which uses the NEXRAD network and precipitation gauges, is challenged in this region because of blockage and lack of low-level radar coverage in complex terrain. The gauge-driven gridded datasets, which statistically interpolate gauge measurements over complex terrain to better estimate orographic precipitation, are challenged by the highly heterogeneous, weather-dependent nature of precipitation in complex terrain at scales finer than can be resolved by the gauge network, such as the SNOTEL network. Gauge-driven gridded precipitation estimates disagree in areas where SNOTEL gauges are sparse, especially at higher elevations. The WRF simulation captures wintertime orographic precipitation distribution and amount well, and biases over specific mountain ranges are identical to those in an independent WRF simulation, suggesting that these biases are at least partly due to errors in the snowfall measurements or the gridding of these measurements.
    [Show full text]
  • Weather and Climate Inventory National Park Service Sierra Nevada Network
    National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Weather and Climate Inventory National Park Service Sierra Nevada Network Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SIEN/NRTR—2007/042 ON THE COVER High alpine meadow in Yosemite National Park Photograph copyrighted by David Simeral Weather and Climate Inventory National Park Service Sierra Nevada Network Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SIEN/NRTR—2007/042 WRCC Report 2007-17 Christopher A. Davey, Kelly T. Redmond, and David B. Simeral Western Regional Climate Center Desert Research Institute 2215 Raggio Parkway Reno, Nevada 89512-1095 June 2007 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Program Center Fort Collins, Colorado The Natural Resource Publication series addresses natural resource topics that are of interest and applicability to a broad readership in the National Park Service and to others in the management of natural resources, including the scientific community, the public, and the National Park Service conservation and environmental constituencies. Manuscripts are peer-reviewed to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. The Natural Resources Technical Reports series is used to disseminate the peer-reviewed results of scientific studies in the physical, biological, and social sciences for both the advancement of science and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The reports provide contributors with a forum for displaying comprehensive data that are often deleted from journals because of page limitations. Current examples of such reports include the results of research that address natural resource management issues; natural resource inventory and monitoring activities; resource assessment reports; scientific literature reviews; and peer-reviewed proceedings of technical workshops, conferences, or symposia.
    [Show full text]
  • COOPERATIVE INSTITUTE for RESEARCH in ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES University of Colorado at Boulder UCB 216 Boulder, CO 80309-0216
    CELEB ra TING 0 OF ENVI R ONMENT A L RESE arc H years 4 COOPERATIVE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ANNU A L REPO R T IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES University of Colorado at Boulder i 00 2 8 COOPERATIVE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES University of Colorado at Boulder UCB 216 Boulder, CO 80309-0216 Phone: 303-492-1143 Fax: 303-492-1149 email: [email protected] http://cires.colorado.edu ANNU A L REPO R T ST A FF Suzanne van Drunick, Coordinator Jennifer Gunther, Designer Katy Human, Editor COVE R PHOTO Pat and Rosemarie Keough part of traveling photographic exhibit Antarctica—Passion and Obsession Sponsored by CIRES in celebration of 40th Anniversary ii From the Director 2 Executive Summary and Research Highlights 4 The Institute Year in Review 12 Contributions to NOAA’s Strategic Vision 13 Administration and Funding 16 Creating a Dynamic Research Environment 21 CIRES People and Projects 26 Faculty Fellows Research 27 Scientific Centers 58 Education and Outreach 68 Visiting Fellows 70 Innovative Research Projects 73 Graduate Student Research Fellowships 83 Diversity and Undergraduate Research Programs 85 Theme Reports 86 Measures of Achievement: Calendar Year 2007 146 Publications by the Numbers 147 Refereed publications 148 Non-refereed Publications 172 Refereed Journals in which CIRES Scientists Published 179 Honors and Awards 181 Service 185 Appendices 188 Governance and Management 189 Personnel Demographics 193 Acronyms and Abbreviations 194 CIRES Annual Report 2008 1 From the Director 2 CIRES Annual Report 2008 am very proud to present the new CIRES annual report for fiscal year 2008. It has been another exciting year with numerous accomplishments, Iawards, and continued growth in our research staff and budget.
    [Show full text]
  • Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) Data Collection Network
    One city began flood diversion preparations early based on SNOTEL and SSWSF data. In spite of extremely high volume of spring runoff (75,300 acre-feet of water compared to an his- toric average 21,000 acre-feet), flood damages were minimal. City managers estimated losses would have been over $15 million in housing, not including the value of businesses and other infrastructure. The SNOTEL network and SSWSF Program are of critical value to water users and managers throughout the West. To learn more, visit our web- site at www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov. Contact us For information on local snow survey data and Accumulated precipitation, snow water equivalent, snow products, contact the NRCS State Office: depth and average air temperature data for the Aneroid Lake SNOTEL site in Oregon. Elevation at this site is 7,400 ft. Alaska 907-761-7746 Arizona 602-686-4349 Uses and benefits California 530-792-5622 Colorado 720-544-2852 Data collected and transmitted by SNOTEL stations and manual collection sites are processed rigidly for Idaho 208-685-6983 quality and packaged in both raw and formatted ver- Montana 406-587-6844 sions on the NWCC website (www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov). Nevada 775-857-8500 x152 The data and information are used by many govern- New Mexico 505-761-4431 mental and private entities. Examples include: Oregon 503-414-3270 Utah 801-524-5213 x112 Typical SNOTEL site, northern Utah Program information influences production decisions Washington 360-428-7684 x141 on millions of acres of surface-water dependent, irri- Wyoming 307-233-6744 gated agricultural lands.
    [Show full text]