2011-09-19_REVISION - M1982155 (17)

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Climate Introduction EXHIBIT K The Fountain Pit operation is located several miles south of the Colorado Springs airport weather station. Much of the information below is taken from the airport weather station data. Although the climatic parameters measured at the weather station are somewhat applicable to the site, differences also occur. Temperature Colorado Springs is noted for its wide spatial range in temperature that can be experienced at any one time. The temperature on the west side of the city during a strong Chinook wind can be as much as 30 degrees higher than the temperature on the east side of the city. Additionally, the highly variable topography of the region can produce a wide range in temperature over short distances. Hollows and valleys can collect cold air and be 10 or 15 degrees colder than the top of a nearby hill. In winter, this wide temperature variation can create intense and shallow temperature inversions where the air a thousand feet above the ground can be as much as 40 degrees warmer than the air near the ground. The mean date of the last spring frost at the airport is about May 7, however, just 15 to 18 miles west Manitou Springs has a mean last spring frost date of May 30. This difference in last frost date indicates the amount of local climate variation within the region. The January mean temperature at the weather station is about 29.5° F. and the mean low temperature in January is approximately 15.6° F. However, the daytime temperature in January can reach well into the 40's and sometimes into the low 60's. Winter temperature changes can be dramatic on a daily basis because the city is subject to occasional arctic fronts that bring in polar air. The July mean temperature is about 70.4° F. and the July mean high temperature is approximately 85° F. These figures indicate a warm climate during the growing season. The mean date of first fall frost at the airport is October 8, but the earliest occurrence is September 11. Like the last frost in spring, there is a very wide variation in the dates of the first fall frost. Therefore, the practical growing season reliably extends from mid -May to mid or late September. Precipitation The mean annual precipitation at the airport is 13.9 inches, which is very similar to most other areas in the Front Range Urban Corridor. Maximum annual precipitation is about 25 inches which is also similar to other cities in the region. The mean precipitation between April and September is approximately 12 inches which is about one inch greater than what most other cities receive on the average. Fountain Pit M -1982 -155 DRMS 112 Permit Amendment Page 24