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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Tucson, Arizona » SWRC » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #59320
Title: THE INFLUENCE OF TOPOGRAPHY ON PRECIPITATION UNDER THE DISTINCT SUMMER AND WINTER WEATHER PATTERNS OF SOUTHEASTERN ARIZONA

Author
item SCOTT, R - UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
item Goodrich, David - Dave

Submitted to: International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/17/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: An analysis and description of the influence of topography on precipitation in a semi-arid, mountainous watershed of southeastern Arizona, U.S.A. are presented. This examination is a preliminary study in the upcoming large-s called the SALSA (Semi-Arid Land Surface-Atmosphere) program that will focus on the upper San Pedro river basin, an area that has typical basin and range mountain topography. A site description with preliminary scientific objectives will be presented along with a discussion of designing an observational campaign for a mountainous area. This initial study utilizes data (precipitation, wind speed, relative humidity, pressure, and solar radiation collected from 1987 to the present) from 10 meteorological field stations ranging from 1200 m. to 2400 m. in elevation at the U.S. Army's Fort Huachuca military base. The precipitation climatology in this area changes dramatically over the year - changing from ma summer monsoonal flow that triggers intense convective downpours to a winter flow that is dominated by large-scale and less intense baroclinic disturbances. This analysis will examine the influence of topography under these distinct storm patterns.