Weather and Climate Inventory, National Park Service, Appalachian Highlands Network
Davey CA, Redmond KT, Simeral DB. 2007. Weather and Climate Inventory, National Park Service, Appalachian Highlands Network. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/APHN/NRTR—2007/008. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Climate is a dominant factor driving the physical and ecologic processes affecting the Appalachian Highlands Inventory and Monitoring Network (APHN). Climate variations are responsible for short- and long-term changes in ecosystem fluxes of energy and matter and have profound effects on underlying geomorphic and biogeochemical processes. The APHN is distinguished by steep moisture and temperature gradients resulting in substantially different environments over short distances. Annual precipitation in the southern Appalachian Mountains is second in North America only to the Pacific Northwest in annual rainfall and is a major driver in both terrestrial and aquatic systems of the APHN. Considerable local variations in precipitation are imposed by orography and rain shadow effects. Climate changes are directly affecting APHN ecosystems, altering natural ecosystem disturbance regimes (including fire), and facilitating exotic species invasions. Effects of these climate changes are likely amplified at the higher elevations of the APHN, where relict boreal communities contain unique and important resources that may be adversely impacted by significant climate warming trends. Because of its influence on the ecology of APHN park units and the surrounding areas, climate was identified as a high-priority vital sign for APHN and is one of the 12 basic inventories to be completed for all National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring Program (I&M) networks.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Davey, C; Redmond, K; Simeral, D
- Date of Issue
- 2007
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- APHN , BISO , BLRI , CLI , GRSM , NRSS , OBRI
- Keywords
- Climate Inventory, Weather Inventory, WRCC-Report