Blog post 3

"I believe the anthropogenic effect for climate change is still only one of the hypotheses to explain the variability of climate." -Kanya Kusano 

Climate Controls:

Jackson is greatly impacted by both meso and micro-scale controls.  The meso-scale controls, specifically the huge orographic barrier of the surrounding Rocky Mountains, secondary atmospheric circulation patterns and dominating air masses play a major role in shaping the regions climate. The migration of atmospheric circulation patterns (seasonal trend) in which the polar jet and cold polar fronts create huge areas of air mass exchange along the surface along with strong high-low pressure gradients create the high winds persistent in the region.  Further local or micro-scale controls contribute to a so-called microclimate where cold air drainage or ponding takes place in the valleys (where Jackson ‘Hole’ gets its name), causing Jackson to receive much more precipitation-usually in the form of snow on average than the rest of Wyoming.   

                             1950-2011 Average Temperatures and trend line in Jackson, WY:

 

 

 

Average yearly temperature trending indicates a minor increase in average High temps and a slight increase in Lows of ~1-2 degrees. Jackson is not subjected to heat-island effect nor experiences deforestation/development processes, however the data may reflect slight warming patterns and/or human error of station diurnal recording times.

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?wyjack

Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification:

Jackson has a relatively rare climate classification as a continental microthermal climate (Dfb), this warm summer continental or hemiboreal climate, traditionally sits North of hot summer continental climates between 40 and 50` North latitude (S. Hemisphere lacks significant land mass in those latitudes).  This climate classification is characteristic of temperatures averaging above 50`F in the summer months, and below 26`F in winter months (N. Hemisphere).  This classification fits Jackson as its average summer (Jun, Jul, Aug) temps of 58`F and winter (Dec, Jan, Feb) temps 18`F fall within range, as do the remaining classification criteria.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification#GROUP_D:_Continental.2Fmicrothermal_climate

                                                           Climagragh of Jackson:



Auerbach, N. A., & Halfpenny, J. C. (1991). Snowpack and the subnivean environment for different aspects of an open meadow in jackson hole, wyoming, usa. Arctic and Alpine Research, 23(1), 41-44. Retrieved from http://www.halfpenny.me/PDFby/SubnivEnv10yrs.pdf

                                                       Climate chart of Jackson, WY:

http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate.php?location=USWY0088





April 23rd, 2012

Very beautiful day in Jackson today, but very windy conditions were present as unequal heating of the atmosphere created huge pressure gradients.

Reflection: Climate comparison of Jackson to Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone NP site is a great comparison as it sits in Teton County and in the same Snake River Basin as Jackson. For a geospatial idea, Yellowstone's Southern entrance is 60 miles north of Jackson, and Old Faithful herself sits 40 miles further north. Several notable mountains, including the massive Teton Range to the north of Jackson is a huge barrier which severs these locations. While the Teton's act as a micro rain-shadow to the east, any resulting influence on weather patterns in minimal.

Annual temperature and precipitation are also very similar, Yellowstone NP sees average January temps of 12`F verses 17.1`F in Jackson, while July temps average 56`F in Yellowstone and 62`F in Jackson. Precipitation amounts give a slight edge to Jackson with 15.9" of rain and 74.7" of snow to 15.4" of rain and 72.1" of snow in Yellowstone.

The same air masses affecting Jackson also influence the seasonal weather in nearby Yellowstone, as do Chinook winds. Bowen's ratio should be similar to that present at Jackson, however given the Yellowstone comprises a larger area, the presence of more and larger bodies of water, and the geothermal activity present, a slight variance can be expected, and may also explain slight differences in average temps and precip totals. It should be noted that Yellowstone NP sits at an average of 8000 ft, and Yellowstone Lake, the location of comparative values, rests ~1500ft higher than Jackson, and Jackson or the 'hole' refers to the valley it rests in and affects temps.
http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/
htp://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/weather.htm

The following link shows demographic and climate comparison of Jackson to nearby Yellowstone National Park, including other specifics. While the average temp and precip totals very from previous models provided, comparative information provided from the two sites separated by nearly a 100 miles can easily be noticed:
http://www.moving.com/real-estate/compare-cities/results.asp?Zip1=82190&Zip2=83001