Climate monitoring in the Mediterranean Coast Network 2018: Cabrillo National Monument

Tercek, Michael

The Mediterranean Coast Inventory and Monitoring Network has been monitoring climate at three national park units in southern California since 2011 to support park management. This report details the climate of Cabrillo National Monument during 2018, as represented by temperature, precipitation, drought, oceanic conditions, and streamflow. Gridded GIS maps are used to present broad-brush conditions across the region for each month. This regional presentation is compared to detailed data from weather stations in the Global Historical Climatology Network, automated meteorological stations, and data from USGS stream gages. Prior to analysis, a set of data quality control checks were performed by the author in accordance with guidelines from Kittel (2008), Kittel et al. (2009), and the Rocky Mountain Climate Working Group (2010). This analysis presents some broad generalizations about climate conditions, although significant variability and exceptions to these patterns certainly existed and are described in the Results section of the report. The regional drought that began in 2012 and slackened in 2017 worsened again from the start to the end of 2018. The El Nino-Southern Oscillation, which is a cyclic ocean-atmosphere climate system centered over the tropical Pacific Ocean that affects sea surface temperatures, began in full La Nina phase (producing drier conditions in southern California) and transitioned during the course of the year to El Nino (producing wetter conditions). Calendar year 2018 had above average temperatures and generally below average precipitation. Streamflows were below the 1982–2010 average for most of the water year and nearly ceased during August. Growing season length was above average for calendar year 2018.

Climate monitoring in the Mediterranean Coast Network 2018: Cabrillo National Monument

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