Climate Transect

More than 750 species of plants exist in diverse habitat or ecological zones between the Sheep and Spring Mountains. These habitat are dependant on the soils, climate, and hydrology of the area of which little is known.

Objectives

Collect micrometeorological and soil data from representative areas within ecologic zones of the Spring and Sheep Mountains. This network will incorporate USGS evapotranspiration (ET) sites, National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) sites, and NRCS SNOw TELemetry (SNOTEL) sites. ET rates determined with USGS sites will be used to help calibrate data from the SCAN and SNOTEL sites in an attempt to understand how ET rates change across the ecologic zones.

Strategy and Approach

Install USGS ET sites, NRCS Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) sites, and NRCS SNOw TELemetry (SNOTEL) sites. ET rates determined with USGS sites will be used to help calibrate data from the SCAN and SNOTEL sites in an attempt to understand how ET rates change across the ecologic zones.

Relevance and Benefits

Improved understanding of these factors will enhance efforts to protect sensitive-status plant species, maintain wildlife habitat, reduce soil erosion and sediment transport, maintain sustainable wild horse and burro populations, fire restoration and subsequent processes that contribute to the evolution of landscape mosaics, and refine estimates of ground-water recharge, consumptive water use, and surface-water runoff.