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<br />• Climate <br />STATlSTlCAL DATA AND COMMENTS <br />OVERVIEW: Data applicable to planning revegetation and reclamation of disturbed lands is available from <br />the official weather station located east of Colorado Springs. Direct application of that data to the site is not <br />wise without interpreting the data after considering the climate modifying effects of mountailtous topography. <br />The following sections present data on precipitation, temperature, humidity, and wind. 't'hese factors are <br />important to the success of revegetation programs. Because the data is from the weather station, other limited <br />data sources are used to modify the official record. This is necessary because the climates east and west of <br />Colorado Springs are rather different. The data is presented in a graphic rather than a numeric format. <br />After this exhibit is a sepazate section that examines about 30 years of records f-om the weather <br />station. The long term variations are important to understanding the annual variations. These annual <br />variations affect the predictability of possible success in any one year. The long term record provides some <br />"feel" for how the climate, particularly precipitation, varies from year to year. This helps identify the exvemes <br />that must be considered when planning a rehabilitation program. <br />TEMPERATURE: Figure l shows the annual variations in maximum, minimum and mean temperature for <br />Colorado Springs on a monthly basis. Of particular importance are the temperatures during the growing <br />season, essentially May through September. <br />FIGURE 1: Tomporaturo (monthly) <br />Cdoredo Splnpe. Cobretlo <br />10p <br />n ~ <br />O <br />a <br /> <br />Frb Mar Apr Mey Juno July Aup Sap Otl Nov Dae <br />Month <br />legend <br />- AYtlmum - - MiNmum Avxeq <br />0 <br />Jen <br /> - ~ <br /> <br /> i <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The patterns indicate a wide range in daily temperatures as shown by the large difference in the length <br />of the maximum and minimtun temperature profiles. This is not only indicative of the usua ly low humidity <br />but also the high elevation of Colorado Springs (6100'). This wide difference is important to plant growth <br />characteristics. Adapted species must be capable of withstanding the stress produced by [he often 30 degree <br />Menzer Quarry Amendment Exhibit K Page 2 <br />