Air
"...the Monument varies greatly in elevation and topography and is in a climatic zone where northern and southern habitat species mingle..."
Presidential Proclamation, September 1996

Features and Applications of the GSENM Climate Monitoring Network
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument operates and maintains 18 climate stations spread across 1.9 million acres. Most of the stations were installed between 1999 and 2002. This network, which is supplemented by 34 non-recording rain gauges, constitutes one of the highest densities of climate stations in the state of Utah and on the Colorado Plateau (Figure 10). These stations collect atmospheric and soils data on an hourly basis. Modems and cellular phones are used to upload data to the University of Utah Mesowest database, where it can be accessed in close to real time via the internet.

Data derived from the climate network serves many purposes. The full value of the dataset is just beginning to be realized.

Fine-scale mapping/modeling of climatic variability
The location of the Monument, effects of landforms, and the characteristics of mechanisms of precipitation generation contribute to a high degree of spatial and temporal precipitation variability. The physiography of the Monument is characterized by steep canyons separated by high mesas and structural/ stratigraphic benches. In particular, two major north-south trending escarpments exert a strong influence on the distribution of precipitation, affecting both the movement of summer convection cells and the release of moisture carried by winter frontal systems.

On an annual basis, topographically-induced patterns of variability overlie the regional patterns influenced by the North American summer monsoon, which supplies moist are from the Gulf of Mexico. Because the average northern boundary of the monsoon passes through the Monument but the boundary fluctuates annually, the area encompassed by the Monument represents a transition zone with a high potential for spatial and temporal variability in summer precipitation.

An ongoing project seeks to model fine-scale variability in average annual and annual precipitation using data from climate stations, rain gauges, RAWS, and Park Service and cooperative observer stations. This project, undertaken by the Monument GIS Specialist as part of an advanced academic degree program, will compare three modeling techniques: an elevation-based linear regression developed by the National Park Service (Figure 11; Spence, 2001), an interpolation and regression/residual model first used in the Sonoran Desert (Comrie and Broyles, 2002), and an expert-mapping approach. Results will be used to examine patterns of variability, develop correlations between long-term climate stations (established circa 1900) and the Monument network, and determine whether there are significant gaps in the network array.

Context for landscape-scale and site-specific studies
Climate data provides context for understanding observed changes in vegetation communities, wildlife populations, and streamflow and groundwater dynamics. The focus of the climate program for the past several years has been on instrumentation and data collection; beginning in 2006, that focus will broaden to include data synthesis and applied analysis.

An initial (very limited) analysis of data collected in 2005 from three nearby stations illustrates some potential avenues of inquiry. Precipitation at two stations whose elevations differ by ~1000 feet is remarkably similar, while precipitation at a station located east of a major ridge is much lower (Figure 12). Between-site variability of Penman-Monteith potential ET (PET) rates is more limited and apparently reflects similarities in atmospheric conditions (air temperature, solar radiation, and relative humidity). The ratio of monthly PET to precipitation can vary greatly between sites, and is probably reflected in vegetation communities. It is expected that differences in precipitation, soil available water capacity, and vegetation cover and composition will cause substantial between-station variability in actual ET rates.

Soil moisture probes and vegetation plots will be installed at a representative subset of climate stations in 2006. Soil moisture data will be used to estimate actual (rather than potential) ET. Vegetation plots located at climate stations will be used to document short- and long-term climate-vegetation interactions, and may also be used as a starting point for studying fine-scale variability in the partitioning of ET, runoff, and seepage (e.g., comparing soil-water-air interactions between sub-canopies and interspaces).

Climate data complements many site-specific investigations, including monitoring the success of rangeland restoration projects, evaluating seasonal fluctuations in the depth to groundwater on the floodplain of a gaining stream, and monitoring bacteria levels in streams that receive high recreational use (Figure 13).

Resource management
Access to historic and real-time weather data allows decision-makers to consider climatic variability. When tracking the onset of drought conditions, for instance, it is possible to use allotment-specific data rather than relying on statewide and regional drought indices. One implementation action associated with an ongoing Rangeland Health EIS involves developing ‘triggers’ for beginning drought assessments. It is expected that this analysis will rely on calculating the Standardized Precipitation Index for nearby long-term stations, then ‘indexing’ clusters of climate stations to that data. This analysis will inform the creation of meaningful ‘cluster-specific’ triggers that reflect both the duration and magnitude of accumulated moisture deficits.

Education and outreach
A climate station is located at the Kanab High School, and one will be installed at the Escalante Visitor Center in summer 2006. These stations can be used by citizens in unique ways.

The Kanab station is maintained by students (Figure 14), and the Monument is working with the High School to incorporate the station’s data into the science curriculum. The Escalante station will complement the ecology-oriented theme of that visitor center, and will be accessible by visitors via a real-time radio link.

In addition to these uses, Monument staff are currently working with Utah State University Extension specialists to incorporate data from the Kanab and Escalante stations into their real-time evapotranspiration and crop watering information network.