Climatology Reports
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Item Open Access Monthly and water year precipitation climatology for selected stations in southwestern Colorado(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1976-09) Benci, John F., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Probability of extreme 24-hour precipitation events in Fort Collins(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1976-11) McKee, Thomas B., author; Benci, John F., author; Mielke, Paul W., author; Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Colorado monthly temperature and precipitation summary for period 1951-1970(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1977-03) Benci, John F., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Monthly and water year climatology for selected stations in northwestern Colorado(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1977-06) Benci, John F., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Colorado growing season(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1977-08) Benci, John F., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Components of infrared net radiation in a mountain valley(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1977-10) McKee, Thomas B., author; Whiteman, C. D. (Charles David), 1948-, author; Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherThe infrared components of the surface radiation budget in a mountain valley have been investigated theoretically. Calculations were based on a set of winter and summer atmospheric soundings specifying temperature and moisture content and for two valley models including a linear valley model and a circularly symmetric valley model. Radiance and irradiance calculations are compared with similar calculations for flat terrain. Downward irradiances at the valley center were shown to be higher than for flat terrain and were due to radiation from the valley sidewalls. The largest effect was obtained for a dry winter atmosphere with the sidewalls warmer than the valley bottom. Downward irradiance was increased by 16% over the flat terrain case and the net irradiance at the valley center was decreased by 24% which would lead to a decreased surface cooling. Calculations were made for five spectral intervals including the 6.5 micron water band (4.4 - 7 .8μ), the water vapor continuum or atmospheric window (7. 8 - 13. 4μ), the 15 micron carbon dioxide band (13. 4 - 16. 3μ), a small window (16. 3 - 20. 2μ), and the rotational water bands (20. 2 - 48. 8μ). Only the two bands described as windows contribute significantly to the changes in downward irradiance. The remaining three spectral intervals are nearly opaque to transmission of radiation from the valley sidewalls to the valley center.Item Open Access Fort Collins solar radiation data: May 1975 through December 1976(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1978-08) Cox, Stephen K., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Colorado climate summary water-year series: January 1977-September 1977, October 1977-September 1978(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1978-12) Doesken, Nolan J., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Colorado Climatology Office, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Colorado climate summary water-year series: October 1978-September 1979(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1979-12) Doesken, Nolan J., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Colorado Climate Center, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Fort Collins solar radiation data: January 1978 through December 1979(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1980-08) Cox, Stephen K., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Martin, Pauline J., author; Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Colorado climate summary water-year series: October 1979-September 1980(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1980-12) Doesken, Nolan J., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Colorado Climate Center, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Climate profile for the McCallum Emria study area(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1981-03) McKee, Thomas B., author; Doesken, Nolan J., author; Smith, Freeman M. (Freeman Minson), 1939-, author; Kleist, John D., author; Colorado Climate Center, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Development of climate profiles for reclamation(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1981-04) McKee, Thomas B., author; Doesken, Nolan J., author; Smith, Freeman M. (Freeman Minson), 1939-, author; Kleist, John D., author; Colorado Climate Center, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Colorado climate summary water-year series: October 1980-September 1981(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1981-12) Doesken, Nolan J., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Colorado Climate Center, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Colorado solar radiation data with supplemental climatic data(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1982-08) Doesken, Nolan J., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Ebel, David M., author; Colorado Climate Center, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Colorado climate summary water-year series: October 1981-September 1982(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1982-12) Doesken, Nolan J., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Colorado Climate Center, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Use of the Palmer index and other water supply indexes for drought monitoring in Colorado(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1983-03) Doesken, Nolan J., author; Kleist, John D., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherThe Colorado Drought Response Plan of 1981 assigned drought monitoring responsibilities to a special intergovernmental technical working group called the Colorado Water Availability Task Force (WATF). The intent of this group is to use existing data sources and information products to monitor Colorado's water supplies. The information assembled and interpreted by the WATF is then used by State decision makers to guide State government's response to drought. The Palmer Index, developed in the 1960's, has become a credible tool for monitoring drought and assessing drought severity on the national scale. It reasonably depicts soil moisture conditions using a simple hydrologic balance accounting for precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff and soil moisture recharge. However, experiences of the WATF have revealed that Palmer Index values, currently generated weekly through the growing season by the National Climatic Data Center for 5 climatic divisions in Colorado, were only marginally useful for drought monitoring. The regions were too large and climatically diverse, and input temperature and precipitation data were not adequately controlled to produce consistent and meaningful results. With the encouragement arid cooperation of the WATF this project was undertaken to adapt the Palmer Index model to Colorado. The original program was brought to Colorado, the state was broken down into 25 climatically similar regions, and a simple routine for adjusting input data to correct for missing data and station moves was implemented. The existing model was then used to generate 30 years of monthly Palmer Index values for all 25 regions of the state. A thorough examination of these new Palmer Indexes has been performed. Comparisons with the original indexes show noticeable differences and considerable small scale detail which previously could not be resolved. With the new smaller regions it is now reasonable to use contour analysis of Palmer Index values to visually describe local variations in drought severity across Colorado. Two case studies were conducted to show how the new indexes compared to original index values during severe drought situations: 1) the end of the 1956 drought on the Eastern Plains, and 2) the 1976-1977 winter drought in the Colorado mountains. A particular application of the Palmer Index was given special attention. Palmer Index values were correlated with dryland winter wheat yields. The best correlations with annual yields were obtained using June 1 or July 1 Palmer Index values. Good correlations were obtained in most of the major wheat growing areas but especially in the northeastern counties of Colorado. Better correlations were obtained using indexes calculated for the new areas than were obtaining using the original index values. The WATF agreed that the capability to calculate Palmer Indexes here in Colorado, with our own choice of climatic divisions, greatly increases the utility of this drought monitoring tool. More refinements are possible, and further study conducted jointly with agricultural interests would be desirable. This index is already of sufficient value to the WATF to justify the low cost required to produce it on a routine monthly basis.Item Open Access Fort Collins solar radiation data: January 1980 through December 1982(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1983-12) Johnson-Pasqua, Christopher M., author; Cox, Stephen K., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Colorado climate summary water-year series: (October 1982-September 1983)(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1984-03) Doesken, Nolan J., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Colorado Climate Center, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisherItem Open Access Analysis of Colorado average annual precipitation for the 1951-1980 period(Colorado State University. Libraries, 1984-12) Doesken, Nolan J., author; McKee, Thomas B., author; Richter, Brian B., author; Colorado Climate Center, Department of Atmospheric Science, Colorado State University, publisher