Field manual for the collection of Navajo Nation streamflow-gage data

Hart, R. J.; Fisk, G.G.

doi:10.3133/ofr20131107

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The first precipitation gauge on the NN was installed in 1952. Since that time, the NN Water Management Branch's Water Monitoring and Inventory Group (NNWMB) has managed over 190 precipitation gauges, as well as multiple snow survey and stream gaging sites, within their hydrometeorological network (Aggett et al., 2011; Garfin et al., 2007; Hart & Fisk, 2014; Tsinnajinnie et al., 2018; Tulley‐Cordova et al., 2018). The precipitation data from the NNWMB network documents hydroclimate across this large, remote region at a spatial extent and coverage not available from other methods (e.g., satellite and radar; Crimmins et al., 2013).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable Isotopes in Precipitation and Meteoric Water: Sourcing and Tracing the North American Monsoon in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah

Tulley-Cordova

Putman

Bowen

2021

Water Resources Research

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The North American Monsoon (NAM) is an important source of precipitation across the southwestern United States. The approximate northern boundary of this feature crosses the Navajo Nation (NN), in the Four Corners region, where NAM rains have long been important to the livelihoods of Native Americans. Relatively little is known about the characteristics and hydrological significance of the NAM in this region. Here, we report a new 4 yr record of stable H and O isotope ratios in monsoon‐season rainfall and water resources across the NN. Monthly precipitation samples collected at 39 sites document a characteristic pattern of 2H‐ and 18O‐enrichment associated with monsoonal precipitation. These changes are weakly correlated with local precipitation amount, however, and the correlation that does exist is dominated by sub‐cloud evaporation effects. In contrast to precipitation amount, monsoon‐season isotopic values exhibited little spatial variability across the region, and after correction for sub‐cloud evaporation NN values were similar to those from a site in southern Arizona. Airmass back trajectory analysis suggests that the uniformly high NAM precipitation water isotope ratios across the region may reflect (a) a region‐wide shift from mid‐latitude to low‐latitude moisture sources at the onset of the peak monsoon, and (b) substantial land‐surface recycling of NAM moisture in upwind regions. Comparison of precipitation water isotope data with surface and groundwater values implies that, despite its hydroclimatic significance, monsoon rainfall contributes little to subsurface water resources. This highlights the monsoon's importance for warm‐season land‐surface ecology and hydrology critical to residents in the Four Corners region.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable Isotopes in Precipitation and Meteoric Water: Sourcing and Tracing the North American Monsoon in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah

Tulley-Cordova

Putman

Bowen

2021

Water Resources Research

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“…In total, the WMBWMI has managed over 190 precipitation gauges since 1952 (Garfin et al ; Aggett et al ). The WMBWMI has also conducted snow surveys and stream gauging since the 1980s (Tsinnajinnie ; Hart and Fisk ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Navajo Nation, USA, Precipitation Variability from 2002 to 2015

Tulley-Cordova

Strong

Brady

et al. 2018

Contemporary Water Research

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Due to its semi‐arid climate, the Navajo Nation, situated in the southwestern United States, is sensitive to small changes in precipitation. However, little information on patterns and causes of rainfall variation is available for this sparsely populated region. In order to study stability and variability over time, this study characterized hydroclimatic changes for the Navajo Nation over timescales of months to years based on data from 90 sites from 2002 to 2015. This research will help local water managers identify related precipitation areas within the region, compare Navajo Nation precipitation with climate indices to ascertain larger‐scale atmospheric contributors to precipitation in the Four Corners region, and support future water planning in this understudied region. A vector quantization method, called k‐means clustering, identified five sub‐regions of contrasting precipitation climatology. The regions differed in the timing, magnitude, and relative importance of the winter and summer peaks comprising the bimodal precipitation regime of the area. Correlation examination of spatial and temporal trends of precipitation variability with three climate indices revealed strong winter precipitation relationships to the Pacific North American teleconnection pattern for all regions; summer precipitation teleconnections were weaker and more variable; however, modest correlations with Pacific Decadal Oscillation were observed. Climate field analysis indicates that cold‐season precipitation is enhanced by intensification of the Aleutian Low with a storm trajectory into the southwest United States; warm season precipitation is enhanced by poleward shift of the North American monsoon ridge.

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Field manual for the collection of Navajo Nation streamflow-gage data

Cited by 2 publications

References 1 publication

Stable Isotopes in Precipitation and Meteoric Water: Sourcing and Tracing the North American Monsoon in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah

Stable Isotopes in Precipitation and Meteoric Water: Sourcing and Tracing the North American Monsoon in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah

Navajo Nation, USA, Precipitation Variability from 2002 to 2015

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