Sierra Nevada Network

Monitoring: Vital Signs

Thirteen Vital Signs: Weather and Climate

Lenticular Clouds: Sierra Nevada, Independence, CA © Vanda Grubisic

Below is more detailed information on the thirteen vital signs that the Sierra Nevada Network will pursue for protocol development. Several Vital Signs are grouped according to the wider ecosystem being studied. Current sampling designs and protocols are found in the Sierra Nevada Network: Vital Signs Monitoring Plan (2007).

Abbreviations:
SIEN   Sierra Nevada Network
DEPO  Devils Postpile National Monument
SEKI    Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
YOSE   Yosemite National Park

Weather and Climate
Vital Signs: Weather and climate, snowpack.

Justification: Climatic forces are a major driver of Sierra Nevada ecosystems. Current patterns of vegetation, water dynamics, and animal distribution in the Sierra are determined largely by cumulative effects of past and present climates. Not surprisingly, anthropogenic climate change is the stressor that is predicted to have the most pronounced effects on Sierra Nevada ecosystems. Changes attributed to climate change have already been observed in Sierra Nevada---peak spring stream flows begin a week to almost three weeks earlier than they did in the mid 20th century (Cayan et al. 2001, Dettinger 2005) and glacial extent has declined markedly in the past several decades (Basagic in progress). A recent resurvey of vertebrate transects in Yosemite that were originally surveyed in 1911-1920 suggests that a warming climate may be affecting animal distributions. Elevational shifts were observed in ground squirrels, alpine chipmunks, and pika (Patton 2006). Weather and climate monitoring information will enable managers to better track climate change in Sierra Nevada parks and its effects on park resources. Weather and climate information will also enable us to better explain trends observed in other vital signs.

Park: DEPO, SEQU, KICA, and YOSE

Monitoring Objectives:

The Network will identify specific monitoring objectives in fall 2007 upon completion of a Climate Monitoring Assessment project the Network established with the Western Regional Climate through the Great Basin CESU. The purpose of this project is to assess the current climate monitoring Network in Sierra Nevada parks, provide the necessary analyses, and make recommendations on how the Sierra Nevada Network can best allocate its resources to enhance weather and climate monitoring.

Current planning status is found in the Sierra Nevada Network: Vital Signs Monitoring Plan (2007).

Learn More

Climate Change
Habitat Fragmentation and Human Use
Altered Fire Regime
Air Contaminants and Atmospheric Deposition
Non-native Species
New Climate Monitoring Station at Devils Postpile National Monument