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<br /> <br />w, <br />v <br />A ~- tr <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> A 'C <br /> ~~• .' <br />~ : 1wP~. Y <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> "° <br /> <br />` ; k <br />, <br />i <br />1 ~ C09' ~ ~ f <br />~ . <br />... - ,~. <br />~,~ . _ ... .~ .. HeC <br />~• <br />' .. <br />_ ___~ <br />~ . <br />HNC. <br /> ~ ~. ... <br /> <br /> <br />~ ~- •.i• ~ 'Vi'i 7. ~'' Tr. .. <br /> <br />Figure 2. Soils map adapted from the United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation <br />Service, Soil Survey of Bent County, Colorado, Map No. 29. <br />CI i mate/Precipitation <br />The shortgrass prairie climate is one of extremes. Precipitation is low, averaging about <br />12.25 inches annually in the Las Animas region of Bent County. This semi-arid <br />grassland receives the major portion of this precipitation in Mazch through September, <br />with the major portion from thunderstorms; however, precipitation for Bent County <br />varies locally, as well as year to year (Preator, Moreland, Woodyazd, and McCullough: <br />1971). <br />Temperatures fluctuate enormously, not just from season to season, but also day to day. <br />Winter minimums may drop to minus 6° Fahrenheit secondary to the effects of cold polar <br />air. Summer highs may exceed 100° Fahrenheit; however, the average annual <br />temperature is approximately 73° Fahrenheit. Throughout the year, wind is a constant <br />presence. Winter blizzards are driven by migrating storm systems. Frequently, less <br />intense warm Chinook winds, later in the season, carry most moisture away from the <br />locale (Preator, Moreland, Woodyazd, and McCullough: 1971). <br />4 <br />