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Desert Microclimates Chapter 11

Desert Microclimates Chapter 11. What is a Microclimate?. A local, or “small scale”, variation in one or more characteristics of the average weather, or climate Does not need to be long-lasting, as with our normal definition of climate. How are Microclimates Defined Meteorologically?.

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Desert Microclimates Chapter 11

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  1. Desert MicroclimatesChapter 11

  2. What is a Microclimate? • A local, or “small scale”, variation in one or more characteristics of the average weather, or climate • Does not need to be long-lasting, as with our normal definition of climate

  3. How are MicroclimatesDefined Meteorologically? • Temperature • Precipitation • Fog • Amount of solar radiation

  4. What Causes Desert Microclimates • Mountain effects - on precipitation – rainshadow and altitude oases

  5. What Causes Desert Microclimates • Mountain effects - on precipitation – rainshadow and altitude oases - on temperature • cold-air drainage

  6. What Causes Desert Microclimates • Mountain effects - on precipitation – rainshadow and altitude oases - on temperature • cold-air drainage • altitude

  7. Drainage and Altitude Effects on Temperature Cold air pooling

  8. What Causes Desert Microclimates • Mountain effects - on precipitation – rainshadow and altitude oases - on temperature • cold-air drainage • altitude • exposure of slope toward and away from sun – north vs. south facing

  9. Slope Orientation • Impacts temperature • Varies throughout day

  10. Slope Orientation Effect Noon Sun Cool, moist, vegetation A Hot, dry, vegetation B North South

  11. What Causes Desert Microclimates • Mountain effects - on precipitation – rainshadow and altitude oases - on temperature • cold-air drainage • altitude • exposure of mountain slope toward and away from sun • north vs. south facing • Shading from sun • Water table near the surface • Proximity to coastline (fog), lake or creek • Type of substrate (sand, rock, soil) • Differences in vegetation

  12. Change in Vegetation with Altitude

  13. Goshute Valley, Great Basin Desert

  14. Table . 6.3 Increases in vegetation will tend to… Summary of Vegetation Influences on Desert Environments

  15. Scales of Microclimates • Large extreme – area of a state • Small extreme – area in the shade of a small plant

  16. What is the Most Well-Known Microclimate? • The urban “heat island”

  17. Weather Modified by Urban Heat Island: Generation/Enhancement of Rainfall

  18. The Atlanta, Columbia, Birmingham Heat Islands

  19. SacramentoWhite, red – Hot, 60 C, 140 F Blue, green – Cool, 30 C, 90 F

  20. Views of Mountain Microclimates

  21. The Mojave Desert

  22. Mojave

  23. Sonoran Desert(Yuma)

  24. The Microclimate Over a Playa

  25. A Great Basin Desert Playa

  26. An Australian Salt FlatRadiative Surface Temperature (C)

  27. Range of Microclimates in an Area of the Sonoran Desert of Arizona

  28. Microclimate Near a Coast in the ArabianDesert

  29. Inland Red Sea Coast

  30. Microclimates Over a Varied Landscape in an Australian Desert

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