Weather is the state of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc. at a given point in time, while climate refers to the average weather conditions for an area over a long period of time. Or as has often been said, “the climate is what you expect; the weather is what you get”.
Climate is a key factor determining the characteristics and distribution of ecosystems. Many ecosystem processes are affected by climate and weather, such as photosynthesis, respiration and nutrient cycling. The climate of the Southwest is already changing in ways that can be attributed to human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases. These changes include warmer average daily temperatures, unusually severe drought relative to droughts of the last century, and flows in the four major drainages that are lower than their twentieth century average flows. These changes are impacting species distributions, population sizes, and the timing of reproduction and migration events. They are also resulting in an increase in the frequency of pest and disease outbreaks, and altering fire and other disturbance regimes.
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- Locations: Arches National Park, Aztec Ruins National Monument, Bandelier National Monument, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Big Bend National Park, more »
- Offices: Chihuahuan Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network, Climate Change, Climate Change Response Program, Inventory and Monitoring Division, Mediterranean Coast Inventory & Monitoring Network, more »
When the climate changes enough, the vegetation communities growing in any given place will also change. Under an expanded bimodal climate zone, some plant communities in western national parks are more likely to change than others. National Park Service ecologists and partners investigated the future conditions that may force some of this change. Having this information can help park managers decide whether to resist, direct, or accept the change.
- Locations: Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Big Bend National Park, Capulin Volcano National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Fort Larned National Historic Site, more »
Both the Clean Air Act and the National Park Service Organic Act protect air resources in national parks. Park resources affected by air quality include scenery and vistas, vegetation, water, and wildlife. Over the past three decades, the National Park Service has developed several internal and cooperative programs for monitoring various measures of air quality.
The National Park Service's Sonoran Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program is monitoring several vital signs that will likely show the effects of climate change. This article offers a summary of the network’s local-scale findings to date, as well as some examples of how monitoring will detect future change.
- Locations: Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Capulin Volcano National Monument, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Fort Larned National Historic Site, more »
Climate change may have direct and/or indirect effects on many elements of Southern Plains network ecosystems, from streams and grasslands to fires and birds.
- Locations: Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Amistad National Recreation Area, Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site, Big Bend National Park, Capulin Volcano National Monument, more »
Climate is one of many ecological indicators monitored by the National Park Service (NPS) Division of Inventory & Monitoring (I&M). Climate data help scientists to understand ecosystem processes and help to explain many of the patterns and trends observed in other natural-resource monitoring. In NPS units of the American Southwest, three I&M networks monitor climate using the scientific protocol described here.
- Locations: Amistad National Recreation Area
- Offices: Chihuahuan Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network, Inventory and Monitoring Division
Climate and water dramatically shape ecosystems, especially in arid and semi-arid places like Amistad National Recreation Area (NRA) in Texas. The reservoir at the park receives drainage from water basins in the U.S. and Mexico, including the Pecos and Devils rivers and the Rio Grande. The park supports a wide variety of plants and animals because it is in a transition zone between major life and climate zones. We monitor climate and water to assess park ecosystems.
- Locations: Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
- Offices: Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network
Sonoran Desert Network scientists take measurements of key resources at Casa Grande Ruins to understand how natural resources in the park may be changing over time. This report summarizes analyses of weather and groundwater data from water year 2022. The data indicate the park is in mild drought though groundwater levels remain stable. Temperatures were warmer than average. Ten months had below average rainfall, but two months experiencing extreme precipitation.
- Locations: Chiricahua National Monument
- Offices: Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network
This report summarizes the Sonoran Desert Network’s analyses of weather, groundwater, and springs data from Water Year 2022 in Chiricahua National Monument. Monitoring these important natural resources at the park helps us understand changes over time. The data indicate the park had a heavy monsoon season and is not in drought, though most months had far below average precipitation. The groundwater was higher than in WY2021, though surface water springs show signs of drying.
- Locations: Coronado National Memorial
- Offices: Inventory and Monitoring Division, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate, Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network
At Coronado National Memorial, desert plants, wildlife, and visitors all depend on reliable water sources. The Sonoran Desert Network monitors climate, groundwater, and springs at the memorial. Understanding changes in these closely linked factors helps managers make informed decisions affecting natural resources. Learn about our recent findings.
- Locations: Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument
- Offices: Sonoran Desert Inventory & Monitoring Network
Sonoran Desert Network scientists monitor key resources and weather at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument by taking measurements throughout the year to understand changes over time. This report summarizes analyses of weather and springs data from Water Year 2022. The data indicate the park had a noteworthy heavy monsoon season, and the two monitored springs continue to be wet year-round. Air temperatures were similar to previous averages.
Last updated: September 7, 2016