Raina Ryan Date: May 5, 2017

ENVL 2105 Section 002

EVALUATION OF THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF WASHINGTON

Raina Ryan

Date Completed: May 5, 2017

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SECTION I: WASHINGTON’S CLIMATE
Elevation: Two locations at different elevations of Mt. Rainier are presented to demonstrate the
effects elevation has on air temperature. Rainier Paradise Range (Figure 1) has an elevation of
1654.1 m, and Longmire Rainier NPS (Figure 2) has an elevation of 841.9 m. Paradise Range
has a consistently lower monthly average temperature throughout the year. Paradise Range has
an annual average temperature (3.66⁰C) nearly three degrees cooler than that of Longmire
(6.55⁰C). These two locations demonstrate the decrease in mean air temperature that occurs as
elevation increases.

Rainier Paradise Range

20 60
Temperature (⁰C)

Precipitation (cm)
15 50
40
10
30
5
20
0 10
-5 0

Month

Monthly Average Precipitation (cm) Monthly Average Temperature (⁰C)

Figure 1:Paradise Range is located at an elevation of 1654.1 m. The average annual temperature at this location is 3.66⁰C and
total annual precipitation is 300.48 cm. Data are long-term climate averages computed for the period 1981-2010 and are from
the National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals website (https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-
access/land-based-station-data/land-based-datasets/climate-normals/1981-2010-normals-data).

Longmire Rainier NPS

20 60

15 50
Precipitation (cm)
Temperature (⁰C)

40
10
30
5
20
0 10

-5 0

Month

Monthly Average Precipitation (cm) Monthly Average Temperature (⁰C)

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Raina Ryan Date: May 5, 2017

Figure 2: Longmire is located at an elevation of 841.90 m. Average annual temperature at this location is 6.55⁰C and total
annual precipitation is 202.97 cm. Data are long-term climate averages computed for the period 1981-2010 and are from the
National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals website (https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/land-
based-station-data/land-based-datasets/climate-normals/1981-2010-normals-data).

Interior v. Coastal Location: Two locations with differing proximities to the Pacific Ocean are
presented to demonstrate the effect ocean air and wind have on air temperature. Port Angeles
Fairchild International Airport (Figure 3) is located less than 5 miles from the ocean, and Forks
1E (Figure 4) is located slightly more than 14 miles from the ocean. Both have a similar
elevation. Forks, the more inland location, experiences warmer summer’s and more precipitation
than the coastal Port Angeles. Winds blowing off the ocean keep coastal locations cooler than
interior locations during the summer.

Port Angeles Fairchild International Airport

20 60

15 50

Precipitation (cm)
Temperature (⁰C)

40
10
30
5
20
0 10

-5 0

Month

Monthly Average Precipitation (cm) Monthly Average Temperature (⁰C)

Figure 3: Port Angeles is located at an elevation of 87.8 m and is located less than 5 miles from the ocean. Average annual
temperature at this location is 8.99⁰C and total annual precipitation of 68.73⁰C. Data are long-term climate averages computed
for the period 1981-2010 and are from the National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals website
(https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/land-based-station-data/land-based-datasets/climate-normals/1981-2010-normals-
data).

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Raina Ryan Date: May 5, 2017

Forks 1E
20 60
50

Precipitation (cm)
Temperature (⁰C)

15
40
10
30
5
20
0 10
-5 0

Month

Monthly Average Precipitation (cm) Monthly Average Temperature (⁰C)

Figure 4: Forks is located an elevation of 106.7 m and is 14 miles from the ocean. Average annual temperature at this location is
10.06⁰C and total annual precipitation is 304.09 cm. Data are long-term climate averages computed for the period 1981-2010
and are from the National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals website
(https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/land-based-station-data/land-based-datasets/climate-normals/1981-2010-normals-
data).

Orographic Precipitation: One location on each side of the Cascade Mountain Range is
presented to demonstrate the rain shadow effect created by mountain ranges. Forks 1E (Figure 4)
is located on the windward side of the Cascades and the Spokane Weather Forecast Office
(Figure 5) is located on the leeward side of the Cascades. Forks experiences significantly more
rain (304.09 cm/yr) than Spokane (43.38 cm/yr). Forks also experiences half the temperature
variations (12⁰C) during the year that Spokane (23⁰C) does. Significantly hotter and drier
conditions are typical of location on the leeward side of a mountain.

Spokane Weather Forecast Office

20 60
50
Precipitation (cm)
Temperature (⁰C)

15
40
10
30
5
20
0 10
-5 0

Month

Monthly Average Precipitation (cm) Monthly Average Temperature (⁰C)

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Raina Ryan Date: May 5, 2017

Figure 5: Spokane is located at an elevation of 726.1 m. Average annual temperature at this location is 7.80⁰C and total annual
precipitation is 43.38 cm. Data are long-term climate averages computed for the period 1981-2010 and are from the National
Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals website (https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/land-based-
station-data/land-based-datasets/climate-normals/1981-2010-normals-data).

Location Why It Was Chosen

Rainier Paradise Range High elevation on Mt. Rainier
Longmire Rainier NPS Low elevation on Mt. Rainier
Port Angeles Fairchild International Coastal location
Airport
Forks 1E Interior location
Spokane Weather Forecast Office Located in the rain shadow of Cascade Mtn.
Range

Predicted Impacts of Climate Change:

Warming air temperatures and rising oceans may cause slightly interior locations, such as
Forks, to experience temperatures and precipitation levels influenced by coastal conditions. Port
Angeles and other coastal locations are in danger of flood events as oceans rise. The warmer air
temperatures may also increase precipitation on the wayward side of the Cascade Mountain
Range. In addition, warmer temperatures will cause high altitude locations, such as Paradise, to
experience warmer average annual temperatures.

PART II: ECOREGIONS

Level 1 Ecoregions

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Raina Ryan Date: May 5, 2017

Level 1 Ecoregion Name Description

Marine West Coast Forest Temperate and rainy with warm summers
North American Deserts Hot summers
Northwestern Forested Mountains Short summers and long winters

Level 2 Ecoregions

Level 2 Ecoregion Name Description

Cold Deserts Semi-arid
Marine West Coast Forest High rainfall, little temperature variation
Western Cordillera Little temperature variation

Influence of Climate:

Ecoregion level 1, North American Deserts, and Ecoregions level 2, Cold Deserts, occur
on the windward side of the Cascade Mountains. The rain shadow created by the mountain range
causes the climate and, thus, the ecoregions on the leeward side to be semi-arid. Presence of
cooler temperatures, mountains, and precipitation on the windward side of the mountains explain
the presence of the Northwest Forested Mountains and Western Cordillera ecoregions. Presence
of the Marine West Coast Forest ecoregion can be explained by the low elevation of the region
and its close proximity to the sea.

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Raina Ryan Date: May 5, 2017

PART III: SOILS

Soil Orders

Influence of Climate:

Washington contains 9 of the 12 soil orders. The humid and semi-arid climates created by
orographic precipitation allow for this wide array of soil orders. Notice the aridisols are present
on the leeward side of the Cascades in the cold desert ecoregion. In addition, the higher
temperatures and aridity allow for the development of grassland mollisols. The high levels of
precipitation and moderate climate in the Northwestern Forested Mountains ecoregion on the
windward side of the mountain allow for the development of forest spodosols and alfisols. The
presence of the mountains themselves create the materials for the development of andisols.

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Raina Ryan Date: May 5, 2017

Farther west the coastal influenced climate in the Marine West Coast Forest ecoregions
influences and allows for the development of organic histisols. Entisols and the slightly more
developed inceptisols are present throughout the state, meaning the many of the climatic
conditions in the state are proper for soil horizon development. Hististols are primarily present in
the highly developed areas of the state and represent the influence of human activity on soil
horizon development.

PART IV: EVAPOTRANSPIRATION AND STREAMFLOW

Rainier Paradise Range

60
Amount of Water (cm)

50
40
30
20
10
0
-10

Month

Precipitation PET Q

Figure 6: ET remains fairly constant throughout the year, and both precipitation and streamflow (Q) peak in the winter. Total
annual PET is 43.58 cm/ year. Precipitation data is for the period 1981-2010 and are from the National Centers for
Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals website (https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/land-based-station-
data/land-based-datasets/climate-normals/1981-2010-normals-data). Daylength data are from the U.S. Naval Observatory
(http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/Dur_OneYear.php).

Longmire Rainier NPS

40
Amount of Water (cm)

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10

Month

Precipitation ET Q

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Raina Ryan Date: May 5, 2017

Figure 7: ET is the highest in the summer and decreases slightly in the winter. Precipitation and streamflow (Q) both peak in the
winter, and streamflow decreases more than precipitation in the Summer. Total annual PET is 54.01 cm/yr. Precipitation data is
for the period 1981-2010 and are from the National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals website
(https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/land-based-station-data/land-based-datasets/climate-normals/1981-2010-normals-
data). Daylength data are from the U.S. Naval Observatory (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/Dur_OneYear.php).

Port Angeles Fairchild International Airport

15
Amount of Water (cm)

10

-5

-10

Month

Precipitation ET Q

Figure 7: ET is the highest in the summer and moderately decreases in the winter months. Precipitation remains moderately
constant and peaks in the winter. Stream discharge (Q) decreases dramatically in the Summer months when ET is at its peak and
increases in the Winter when precipitation increases. Total annual PET is 62.00 cm/yr. Precipitation data is for the period 1981-
2010 and are from the National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals website
(https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/land-based-station-data/land-based-datasets/climate-normals/1981-2010-normals-
data). Daylength data are from the U.S. Naval Observatory (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/Dur_OneYear.php).

Forks 1E
50
Amount of Water (cm)

40

30

20

10

-10

Month

Precipitation ET Q

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Raina Ryan Date: May 5, 2017

Figure 8: ET remains fairly constant throughout the year. Both precipitation and stream discharge (Q) are at the lowest point in
the Summer months and increase dramatically in the Winter months. Total annual PET is 64.35 cm/yr. Precipitation data is for
the period 1981-2010 and are from the National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals website
(https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/land-based-station-data/land-based-datasets/climate-normals/1981-2010-normals-
data). Daylength data are from the U.S. Naval Observatory (http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/Dur_OneYear.php).

Spokane Weather Forecast Office

15
Amount of Water (cm)

10

-5

-10

-15

Month

Precipitation ET Q

Figure 9: ET peaks in the Summer and decreases moderately in the Winter. Precipitation remains fairly constant throughout the
year, but high levels of ET cause stream discharge (Q) to reach a noticeable low in the Summer months. Total annual ET is 59.94
cm/yr. Precipitation data is for the period 1981-2010 and are from the National Centers for Environmental Information U.S.
Climate Normals website (https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/land-based-station-data/land-based-datasets/climate-
normals/1981-2010-normals-data). Daylength data are from the U.S. Naval Observatory
(http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/Dur_OneYear.php).

Influence of Climate:

Regardless of climatic variation, stream flow (Q) and evapotranspiration (ET) have an
inverse relationship. Stream flow decreases and evapotranspiration increases. In Paradise,
Longmire, and Forks where the levels of evapotranspiration remain constant throughout the year
precipitation levels heavily influence stream discharge. Precipitation and stream flow also share
and inverse relationship. The lowest levels of precipitation occur in the Summer months in all
locations, regardless of precipitation variation throughout the year. Similarly, The
evapotranspiration peaks in the Summer. High levels of evapotranspiration in the Summer are
representative of the increased insolation during these months. Spokane, the one location with a
semi-arid climate experiences significantly higher levels of evapotranspiration during the
Summer months. Annual stream discharge levels vary from 43.58 cm/yr to 64.35 cm/yr between
the five locations, and stream discharge has an inverse relationship with both precipitation and
evapotranspiration in all five locations.

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