Site Name
IMPROVE:
KALM1
Region
Klamath Mountains
Terrain
Terrain is shown in the 2 km terrain
map and the 20 km terrain
map.
The Kalmiopsis Wilderness is located in the
Klamath Mountains of southwestern Oregon,
part of the coastal temperate rainforest zone that lies between the Pacific
Ocean and the east side of the coast ranges in northwestern U.S. and Canada.
Its western boundary is 20 to 25 km (12 to 15 mi) from the coast. Its
easternmost extent is about 40 km (25 mi) from the coast. Elevations range
from about 300 m (900 ft) on the western boundary where the Chetco River
exits the Wilderness towards the Pacific Ocean 25 to 30 miles further west,
to 1,554 m (5,098 ft) on Pearsoll Peak on the eastern Wilderness boundary.
Terrain is steep canyons and long broad ridges. The Wilderness is mostly
west of the general crest of the coast range, thus exposed to precipitation
caused by lifting of eastward moving maritime air, primarily during the
winter. Precipitation ranges from 150 to 350 cm (60 to 140 in) annually,
depending on elevation.
The IMPROVE site representing the Kalmiopsis Wilderness is KALM1, located
about 10 km (6 mi) north of the Wilderness boundary near the point where the
Illinois River that flows from southeast to northwest through the Wilderness
merges with the Rogue River. The Illinois River elevation at its exit from
the Wilderness on the north boundary is near 650 m (2,100 ft). The elevation
of KALM1 is 295 ft, some 600 ft lower than the lowest Chetco River elevation
on the western Wilderness boundary, and 1,800 ft below the Illinois River
elevation at the northern Wilderness boundary, upstream. These elevations
are of interest because they are near typical heights of sea breeze assisted
inversions.
Representativeness
The KALM1 IMPROVE site is on a bench above the Rogue River that empties into
the Pacific Ocean 30 km (20 mi) to the west. It should be reasonably
representative of Wilderness locations at similar elevations and distances
from the Ocean. It may see maritime effects that are not seen at higher
Wilderness locations. At its lower valley location it may also at times be
within valley inversions that do not extend to Wilderness elevations.
Although more infrequent, it may also be influenced by downvalley transport
from the Grants Pass area that does not impact higher Wilderness locations.
Nearby Population/Industrial Centers and Local Sources
The nearest population center is Grants Pass Oregon, 40 km (25 mi) east in
the Rogue River valley, population about 25,000, within Josephine County,
population about 75,000. The primary industry in Josephine County is timber.
Nearby Meteorological Data Stations
Nearby meteorological
monitoring network stations are shown in the data network
map and at the
RAWS station US Climate Archive
site. The Agness
Oregon RAWS site is located near the confluence of the Illinois River
with the Rogue River close to the KALM1 IMPROVE site at an elevation 46 m
(150 ft). Data from this site is the best representation of meteorological
conditions concurrent with aerosol data from KALM1. The
Quail Prairie
Lookout Oregon RAWS site is located on the western Wilderness boundary
at an elevation of 925 m (3,033 m) and is more representative of actual
higher Wilderness elevations. Long-term surface data is available from the
Medford AP
Oregon WSO station. Twice daily upper air data is also collected at the
Medford Oregon RAOB site, about 90 km (50 mi) east of the Wilderness and is
representative of upper air structure in the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.
Wind Patterns
Prevailing winds at well-exposed coast range locations in the Kalmiopsis
Wilderness are generally from the north or northwest throughout the year and
especially in the summer months, a consequence of the semi-permanent high
pressure that lies off the Pacific Coast. Southerly and easterly winds can
occur during the winter, when the Pacific High moves southward and weakens.
This pattern is indicated in monthly
North Bend Oregon wind roses, representative of nearby coastal
locations, and in monthly Medford Oregon wind roses, taken at an interior southern Oregon location that may
have some orographic modification.
On a smaller scale, the KALM1 IMPROVE site may be within a land/sea breeze
circulation regime owing to its low elevation and access to the Pacific
Ocean via the lower Rogue River valley, especially in the summer. This may
be evident in KALM1 aerosol data as a diurnal pattern to observed maritime
components. There could also be a valley drainage flow pattern at the KALM1
site, with down-valley flow from the east at night, although this would
likely be in opposition to prevailing westerly breezes. Neither of these
effects, land/sea breeze or valley flow, is likely to be seen as often if at
all at higher Wilderness elevations.
Potential local transport routes towards the KALM1 site include transport of
marine components via the lower Rogue River valley from the west, and of
anthropogenic components from the Grants Pass area via the Rogue River
valley from the east. This is in addition to upper level transport into the
Kalmiopsis Wilderness in general from distant source regions on a synoptic
to global scale. The area is also subject to smoke from wildland fires in
this forested region.
Inversions/Trapping
Inversions that could restrict aerosols at the KALM1 site are probably
frequent. In the extended summer months, May to October, the common
inversion condition over the eastern Pacific is a subsidence inversion
caused by the persistent sub-tropical high-pressure system. This inversion
can extend inland to distances of the KALM1 site, aided by the sea breeze
and varying diurnally. Vertical mixing is commonly restricted to 600 m
(2,000 ft) or less, so that aerosol characteristics at the KALM1 site may
not represent characteristics at Wilderness elevations. The Rogue River
valley may also be subject to surface based valley inversions that could
also restrict aerosols to lower elevations.
Climatological Statistics
Medford Oregon
Normals Means and Extremes are representative of inland locations in
southern Oregon. Coastal locations near the Kalmiopsis Wilderness are better
represented by
Brookings Oregon Climate Data. For higher Wilderness elevations, data
from the Quail
Prairie Lookout Oregon RAWS site are more representative. These and
other Oregon Climate
Summaries are available from the
Western Regional Climate Center.
Keywords