what is happening to our weather?
TRANSCRIPT
What is Happening to Our Weather?
Nolan DoeskenNolan DoeskenState ClimatologistState Climatologist
Colorado Climate CenterAtmospheric Science Department
Prepared by Odie Bliss
Presented 2007 Arkansas River BasinPresented 2007 Arkansas River BasinWater Forum, April 13Water Forum, April 13--14, 2007, 14, 2007,
Rocky Ford, ColoradoRocky Ford, Colorado
July – Heavy Rains – it actually turned Green!
Rocky Ford2006 Water Year
0
5
10
15
20
25
OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP
Acc
umul
ated
Pre
cipi
tatio
n (In
ches
)
30 Year Averages-1971-2000 Max Year - 1999 Min Year - 2002Period of Record Average - 1889-2002 2006 Water Year Accumulated
Jan-Feb 2007So-so in the mountains, so cold in the Valley
Water Year 2007 Temperature Departures
-10.0
-8.0
-6.0
-4.0
-2.0
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Tem
pera
ture
Dep
artu
re (d
eg F
)
Eastern Plains Foothills Mountains Western Valleys
Temperature Departures from Average
-16
-12
-8
-4
0
4
8
Oct-06 Nov-06 Dec-06 Jan-07 Feb-07
Tem
pera
ture
(deg
F)
Rocky Ford Lamar Las Animas Holly
SE Colorado Snowpack –The snow that wouldn’t leave….
As of January 7, 2007
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?AERONET_BSRN_BAO_Boulder
As of February 15, 2007
Colorado Snowcover
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?AERONET_BSRN_BAO_Boulder
Water in the Snowpack during early February and the Total Precipitation for the months of December and January
Yellow - water equivalent measured by coring/melting as reported by Cooperative ObserversLight Blue - water equivalent measured by coring/weighing as reported by NWS employeesBoxed - total precipitation for December and January as reported by Cooperative Observers
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crnews/display_story.php?wfo=pub&storyid=5870&source=0
Independence PassApril 1 Snow Course and Snotel
Independence Pass, CO (Elevation 10,600') April 1 SWE
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
SWE
(in)
Snow Course April 1 SWE (in)Snotel April 1 SWE (in)
Porphyry CreekApril 1 Snow Course and Snotel
Porphyry Creek, CO (Elevation 10,760') April 1 SWE (in)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
SWE
(in)
Snow Course April 1 SWE (in)Snotel April 1 SWE (in)
We are delighted with what we’ve accomplished and what we’re
learning, but we could sure use a few more volunteers!
Rocky Ford Precipitation Rocky Ford Annual Precipitation
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1880
1885
1890
1895
1900
1905
1910
1915
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Prec
ipita
tion
(inch
es)
Pueblo EvaporationPueblo WSO
May through Sept Pan Evaporation
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Evap
orat
ion
(In)
For More Information, Visit the CoCoRaHS Web Site
Support for this project provided by NOAA Environmental Literacy Program andmany local charter sponsors.
http://www.cocorahs.org