Other factors, such as elevation, contribute to the type
of climate experienced in Craters of the Moon. Known as a high desert, Craters
of the Moon is located approximately 5,910 feet above sea level. At the northern
end of the monument the temperatures are lower and the precipitation is higher
because it rests at a higher elevation than the southern half. Another factor
is that Craters of the Moon is land locked and does not boarder any major body
of water. This is significant because land heats and cools faster than water
which, in Craters of the Moon, means a higher temperature range than many
coastal regions of the United States.
Information taken from nps.gov (National Parks Service) Tuesday, November 13, 2012
CLIMATE IS AS CLIMATE DOES
Craters of the Moon National Monument has a latitude
of 43.4167° N and a longitude of 113.5167° W. This means that it is a mid-latitude
region that is affected by the Westerly wind belt in which air moves from West to
East. These belts are kept in place by polar and subtropical jet streams.
Although these jet streams help to keep the Westerlies in place, they also
travel into the Westerlies which can influence weather conditions. Craters of the Moon, for example, has much more active weather during
winter months because the polar front dips down over the United States during
this time of year. As the polar front dips down the polar jet stream dips with
it. At the same time, the subtropical jet stream attempts to move toward the
poles. This interaction of colder and dryer air moving south and interacting
with warmer more moist air creates the potential for snow storms. While summer experiences
hot and dry (surface temperature of 170° F!) climate, winter experiences colder and
wetter climate.
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