North Coast and Cascades Network climate monitoring report: Lewis and Clark National Historical Park; water year 2011
Lofgren RA and Huff M. 2013. North Coast and Cascades Network climate monitoring report: Lewis and Clark National Historical Park; water year 2011. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/NCCN/NRDS—2013/537. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Climate and weather events define the ecological characteristics found in National Parks and are key to understanding and interpreting changes in natural resources. Everyday park operations including fire management, natural resource activities, maintenance of park infrastructure, and visitor use are influenced by weather. Monitoring weather and maintaining climate records provides essential information to support park operations and monitor park resources. This report summarizes climate data collected at weather stations within and adjacent to Lewis and Clark National Historical Park from the 2011 water year. It is part of a set of climate summary reports from seven national and historic parks in the North Coast and Cascades Network. Published in the National Park Service’s Natural Resource Data Series, annual climate summary reports are intended to provide basic data sets and data summaries in a timely manner, with minimal interpretation and analyses. We envision National Park staff, especially planners, scientists, and interpreters; partners; and interested public as the primary audience for these reports. Temperature and precipitation data are presented from four weather stations located along the Pacific Coast from Northern Oregon to Southern Washington. Data were recorded using automated and manual instruments operated by the National Weather Service, Federal Aviation Administration, and National Park Service. For two stations with long term records, the Astoria Regional Airport Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS)/Cooperative Observer (COOP) Station and Long Beach COOP Station, monthly average temperatures and monthly total precipitation are reported and compared to the 30-year normal. For all stations, monthly temperature and precipitation data are displayed. Daily precipitation and average daily temperature are presented for three stations. Water Year 2011 had near normal temperatures and slightly above normal precipitation. At Astoria and Long Beach, temperatures were -0.8 and -0.7°F cooler than normal, respectively. Total annual precipitation at Astoria was 81.5 inches, 121% of normal. Total annual precipitation at Long Beach was 90.0 inches, 111% of normal. Seasonal highlights include both a wetter and cooler than normal spring. The average total precipitation for Washington State for spring was the wettest in the 117-year record while Oregon State recorded the second wettest average total spring precipitation in the 117-year record.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Lofgren, Rebecca; Huff, Mark
- Date of Issue
- 2013-08
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- LEWI , NRSS
- Keywords
- ASOS, Astoria, Automated Surface Observing System, Climate, Climate Monitoring, climate normals, COOP, Cooperative Observer Program, Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administration, Fort Clatsop, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Long Beach, Monitoring, National Weather Service, Oregon, Precipitation, Seaside, Temperature, Washington, weather station
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Air and Climate | Weather and Climate | Weather and Climate