Summary of weather and climate monitoring in Southeast Coast Network parks, 2012

Wright, Christina

Weather and climate are key drivers for ecosystem patterns and processes, affecting both biotic and abiotic components alike. Access to continuous weather monitoring data is a key factor in separating the effects of climate from the effects of human-induced disturbance on other vital signs (e.g., plant and animal communities and population dynamics). The summary information presented in this report pertains to 2012 data. Data from a total of 40 stations were used in the analysis of 2012 weather and climate data based on their proximity, period of record, and the frequency of measures collected. For each park, data from a minimum of two and a maximum of five stations were considered relevant. Winter temperatures are typically colder at stations relevant to inland parks versus coastal parks. For example, January minimum temperatures were colder for stations relevant to CHAT, CONG, HOBE, KEMO, MOCR and OCMU, ranging from 30.8 to 38.9 °F (-0.67 – 3.83 °C), while January minimum temperatures at stations relevant to coastal parks ranged from 39.0 to 56.1°F (3.9 – 13.4 °C). Summer temperatures were typically warmer at stations relevant to inland parks versus coastal parks. For example, July maximum temperatures were warmer for stations relevant to CHAT, CONG, HOBE, KEMO, MOCR and OCMU, ranging 90.9 – 97.1 °F (32.2 – 36.2 °C), while July maximum temperatures at stations relevant to coastal parks ranged 83.8 – 94.4 °F (28.8 – 34.7 °C). The growing season (defined as the number of freeze-free days) was varied widely throughout the Network – ranging from 187 – 366 days. Growing seasons tended to be shorter (187 – 285 days) at stations relevant to the inland parks: MOCR, CONG, CHAT, KEMO, HOBE and OCMU than for the coastal parks (268 – 366 days). The general temperature pattern (average monthly Tmax and Tmin) at weather stations relevant to SECN parks shows that June, August, September, October and November were colder at many stations while the rest of the year was typically warmer during 2012 when compared to the long-term (1981 – 2010) average. However, these departures from normal were not outside the range of variation for the long-term average. Precipitation in the SECN varied widely throughout the Network but was universally below normal for the year, with the exception of Ocracoke, Jacksonville International Airport, and St. Augustine Lighthouse stations. The precipitation departures from normal ranged from 13.26 inches (336.8 mm) below the long-term average at the Macon Middle Georgia Regional Airport station to 7.29 inches (185.2 mm) above the long-term average at St. Augustine Lighthouse station. Total annual precipitation across the southeastern United States was rated below normal (long-term average from 1981–2010), where conditions were near normal to much below normal for the year, with the lowest rainfall occurring in January and again in November 2012.

Summary of weather and climate monitoring in Southeast Coast Network parks, 2012

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