Weather & Climate Monitoring

Rainbow near the west entrance of Joshua Tree National Park

NPS Photo

Overview

In the semi-arid desert landscape where temperatures are extreme and water is scarce, the physical and biological components of ecosystems are unique and especially sensitive to climatic variability. Monitoring climate is important for understanding changes we detect in other vital signs (such as vegetation productivity or composition), and for guiding us in the protection of sensitive habitats and endangered species.

Many studies of future climate conditions in the southwestern U.S. predict higher temperatures and less precipitation in all seasons. In the Mojave Desert Network parks, decreased precipitation would intensify the scarcity of water resources, change hydrologic processes, reduce water recharge to groundwater reservoirs, reduce soil moisture, increase wildfire ignition frequency and fire intensity, and cause an overall decline in species diversity.

Predicted warmer overall temperatures in the spring would cause earlier melting of high-elevation snowpack, resulting in greater flooding over shorter periods in the spring and less meltwater runoff at the end of the summer, especially at Great Basin National Park. In addition, warmer temperatures cause extreme weather conditions, worsen air quality, and result in vegetation and human health risks. Monitoring weather conditions, in combination with other vital signs, is one way to detect, evaluate, and anticipate changes observed in the network park ecosystems.

Weather & Climate Monitoring occurs at

Death Valley National Park
Great Basin National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Mojave National Preserve
Parashant National Monument

Monitoring Objectives

• What are the seasonal and annual status and trends in climate conditions at existing monitoring stations in and near the parks?
• How do localized and regional trends in climate vary with other Mojave Desert Network vital signs (e.g. soil chemistry, vegetation and animal communities, invasive plant status, fire patterns)?
• Do these changes in climate warrant specific management actions to protect natural resources?

For Weather & Climate data, check out the Desert Research Institute!

The Desert Research Institute is one of our partner organizations that hosts weather and climate data from MOJN parks. Explore their web-based data visualization tool where you can quickly and easily generate simple graphs and charts on a variety of near real-time data collected from weather stations across the network parks and their surrounding areas.

Climate Change Exposure Briefs

These briefs provide park-specific summaries of how recent climate conditions compare to historical conditions and the impacts of climate change.

Park Briefs

Source: Data Store Collection 7920. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

Reports and Publications

Climate Change Reports and Weather & Climate Inventory Reports present historical and projected climate change trends for the specified national park unit and a synthesis of published information on historical impacts and future vulnerabilities.

Weather & Climate Inventories and Reports

Source: Data Store Collection 2452. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.