Moab, Utah is classified as a high desert region,
according to the Discover Moab
website. Furthermore, its climate is considered a cold semi-arid steppe climate,
as defined by the Weather Spark
website. While spring and autumn are the peak seasons for Moab tourism due to
its unique climate, the region maintains its beauty throughout the winter as
well.
Moab’s elevation permits
decreased cloud coverage during the summer and winter months. Clouds are in part
responsible for absorbing insolation; thus, they act like a blanket in Earth’s
atmosphere. Less cloud coverage means that less heat is being trapped by
clouds. As a result, clear sky radiation occurs, as well as decreased night
temperatures in the winter.
Another characteristic
of Moab’s climate is its daily temperature differences. According to the Discover Moab site, the highest temperatures
occur from 1p.m. to 4p.m. in the summer. However, noon is the typical time that
maximum solar radiation occurs. This variability in diurnal temperatures
occurs due to Earth’s nature of absorbing and reflecting radiation. This occurs over the course of several hours.
In addition to little
cloud cover through the seasons and daily variations in its temperature,
fast-approaching storms are characteristic to Moab’s climate. Forms of
precipitation typical to the Moab region include rain that varies in intensity,
light amounts of snow, and thunderstorms. During Moab’s warm season, which
lasts from June through September, thunderstorms account for 62% of the
precipitation, as seen in the below bar graph.
Moisture and unstable air must
be present to form thunderstorms. These storms mature through various stages
and can cause intense rainfall, hail, lightning, and thunder. As a result, thunderstorms
often present dangers to hikers in the Moab region.
The climate of Moab is
indubitably unique and causes weather that is “as varied as its landscape,”
according to the Discover Moab website.
References:
"Earth's Atmosphere, Radiation Balance and 'Global Warming'" Lecture Notes
"Temperature of the Earth" Lecture Notes
"Weather" Lecture Notes
http://www.discovermoab.com/faq.htm
http://www.discovermoab.com/climate.htm
http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/arches/arches-winter.htm
Ron Niebrugge/WildNatureImages.com and www.my-photo-blog.com
http://climatekids.nasa.gov/review/greenhouse-effect/cloud_greenhouse_effect-1.jpg
https://weatherspark.com/averages/29941/Moab-Utah-United-States
Video courtesy of: www.youtube.com